"Olympia team captures senior softball crown," -- July 28, 2006

Olympia team captures senior softball crown
BY CALEB BREAKEY
THE OLYMPIAN

Second Wind, a senior softball team from Olympia, won the men's 50 AA division at the SSUSA Western National Championships on Sunday in Reno, Nevada.

Coached by player Frank Agnello, the team pounded out an average of 17 runs per game over the three-day tournament on the way to an 8-1 record.

The team advances to the SSUSA national championship game and the SSUSA World Championships on Sept. 7-10 in the Seattle area.

The 15-player squad, sponsored by the Chehalis tribe's Lucky Eagle Casino, includes an engineer, software consultant, teacher and coach.

After winning its first three games and being seeded No. 1, Second Wind lost its fourth game, forcing it into single elimination play. But the team rallied for five consecutives victories, taking the final two games against Shawn Montee Timber of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, to win the tournament.

"We held a couple opponents to seven runs," Agnello said. "Seven runs in slowpitch softball is atypical."

The team's pitcher, Mike Maiuri, who Agnello said is "the most natural fielder that people have ever seen at the senior level," batted third and hit .750 for the tournament.

Outfielder Ric Doer Flinger, who at 51 is one of the team's youngest players, hit .740. More than half of the team's players are older than 55, Agnello said.

"Ric is a kid in our group," Agnello said.

Craig Everhart, who Agnello said carried the team offensively, hit four home runs over the three-day span.

Shortstop Bill Moore, the team's No. 2 hitter, hit close to .800 and turned several double plays that took "the wind out of the opponent's sails," Agnello said.

Designated hitter Tom Linehim, who hit .650, provided a game-winning hit on the first day of the tournament.