The Punishers have been knocking on the door of a championship title for seven years in the City of Tamarac Adult Coed Softball League.
That door finally opened for them, even though it took a solid pounding to gain entrance.
They made that attempt a successful one by defeating Dudes & Boobs, 26-23, in eight innings in the fall/winter season finale on the softball diamond at Tamarac Park.
A total of 13 teams divided into American and National divisions battled it out from July to January en route to the championship tournament.
The Punishers defeated the Looneys in the American Division final, 22-8; while Dudes & Boobs unleashed the lumber in taking down Pitches Be Crazy in a shortened 20-run mercy rule National Division outcome.
There wasn’t time for any celebrating as both clubs had to play the championship game immediately after advancing.
The Punishers, coached by Rick Chevalier, dropped four games during the regular season, but got hot at the right time and swept three games in a row during the post-season tournament run. The team finished with an overall record of 11-4.
Dudes & Boobs had an inauspicious start to the regular season, dropping its first two games. But the squad righted the ship by going undefeated the rest of the way heading into the championship match.
The title showdown was a battle of youth versus maturity. Dudes & Boobs was one of the younger clubs and possessed speed and agility, while the Punishers with an age range of 30-55 were the veteran team that relied on guile and experience.
During the regular season, the Punishers dropped a one-run decision to Dudes & Boobs.
It was a seesaw final game with both teams taking and losing leads. The Punishers came back in the seventh inning to tie the game up at 19-19, forcing a Kansas City tiebreaker.
Mona Acres knocked in two runs with a clutch hit to tie the contest, while teammate Keith Jenkin made the defensive play of the game on a diving catch in the outfield and then coming up throwing to double a runner off base. In the process Jenkin fractured his hand, but continued to play.
The Punishers proceeded to score seven runs during the Kansas City tiebreaker and the defense was able to contain Dudes & Boobs for the victory.
Pitcher Danny Gabin earned the hard-fought decision on the mound, while Joe Parascando and Chevalier provided the hitting power for the club. Diego Cruz was a stalwart defensively at second base.
“It was the best championship game I’ve ever been in,” Chevalier said. “We have an average age of around 40 and are the veterans. Everybody on our team contributed and all the girls played well and came up big at the plate when we needed them. We were the definite underdogs coming into the championship. Our group is like a family, drama free and highly entertaining.”
Casper’s group had their own share of injuries to overcome in the championship game.
“Our pitcher Cody Rhea injured his ankle in the first inning when he was hit by a line drive on the mound and then pulled a hamstring running the bases, but he gutted it out,” Casper said. “We had them in the last inning and just couldn’t score before extra innings.”
Despite the outcome, Casper and his teammates enjoyed the fall season.
“The season was a lot of fun, but the goal is to win the championship and we’ve been in that position the last couple of years,” he said.
