Statesmen Capture Senior Softball World Championships

The New York Statesmen senior softball team, based out of Farmingdale and run by player/manager Sam Sapienza, captured the Seventh Annual Senior Softball Players Association World Championships in Dallas, TX the weekend of Sept. 13 through 15.

Hall of Famers - John Debiase, John Davide, Sandy Denicker, Sam Sapienza and Sandy Brown.

The Statesmen team is comprised of players between the ages of 55 and 60. In order to win this title in the Major Plus Division, which is the highest level of competition in the nation, the Statesmen won seven games and lost one. In bracket play, the Statesmen defeated Thomas Engineering, MD, 18-17; Faith Electric, GA, 25-9; and the Las Vegas Gamblers, 20-12.

In the double elimination round on Saturday, the Statesmen defeated Faith Electric 16-9; and Thomas Engineering, 24-14.

Shown are (bottom row): Jim Favior, John Wick, John Debiase, Ed Finnegan; (top row) Sam Sapienza, Sandy Brown, Roger Boroway, Pete Smith, Frank Cosentino, Gus Franzoni, Sandy Denicker and John Davide.

Thomas Engineering emerged from the loser's bracket to face the undefeated Statesmen on Sunday. In order to win the title, Thomas Engineering had to win two games from the Statesmen. The first game was a real barn-burner, with each team scoring every inning. The game went into extra innings with Thomas Engineering winning in the eighth inning by a score of 36 to 35. The Statesmen had to win the rubber game and they came out hitting. They scored 15 runs in the top of the first inning and went on to win 34-18, to capture their sixth world title.

Statesmen Frank Cosentino was named the tournament MVP. John Wick, Ed Finnegan, Roger Boroway and Pete Smith were named to the All-World Team. The Statesmen who usually travel with 16 players were forced this weekend, due to injuries, to make the trip with only 12 players.

Statesmen manager Sam Sapienza could not have been more proud of his team. They played eight games in four days in 90+ degree weather and managed to emerge victorious in their quest for another world championship title. Each player will receive a gold ring to commemorate this event.

In addition to winning the championship, three members of the Statesmen were inducted into the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame, namely, John DeBiase (retired Farmingdale High School teacher), Paul "Sandy" Brown and Sandy Denicker. These newly inducted members join John Davide, Sam Sapienza and Hank Cluess who were previously inducted into the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame.