By BOBBIE GREEN
The Progress
prizes. Standing with Sandy Tudor, Event coordinator. PHOTO BY BOBBIE GREEN/The Progress
The Mesquite Senior Games organization held its softball tournament over the past two weeks. An extremely popular event, teams sign up from all over to participate in the local games. The well-kept ball fields and its scheduling just before the Huntsman’s Senior Games allows the MSG tournament to be even more of a success.
MSG coordinator Sandy Tudor has been organizing these softball events for many years now. Tudor said the the MSG’s partnership with the city plays a big part in making this tournament successful. Nicholas Montoya, Director of Parks and Recreation oversees the preparation of the fields and keeping them top shape during the tournament, she said.
A highlight this year for Men’s softball, was the participation of Jose Canseco, world renown retired, major league baseball player, and his Senior softball team the PX 40/40. Canseco, lives in Las Vegas.
“We love coming out here to the MSG,” Canseco told The Progress last week. “We love small town Mesquite, the ball fields, and a chance to play the other teams before the Huntsman Games.”
Canseco graciously signed 13 softballs per day for the MSG to use as raffle prizes on both Monday and Tuesday.
Canseco said the name of his team PX40/40, is also the name of a training invention he came up with to help people manage their swings in both baseball and golf.
Assistant Softball coordinator Shaun Edwards said, “The MSG gives players an awesome opportunity to get their skills honed for the Huntsmen Senior Games.”
Each age group plays in MSG for two days and then goes to the Huntsmen games for three or four more days of competition.
The winners of the tournament were as follows. in the 50’s age group: 1st place Ram Power from Florida, 2nd place, The Cobras, 3rd place the Mulligans from North Dakota.
Division 55-59: 1st place PX 40/40 from Las Vegas, 2nd place North Star Stone, 3rd place Residential Mortgage from Alaska.
Age division 60-64: 1st place Mountain Men from Salt Lake City, UT. 2nd place So. Cal Suns, CA. 3rd place, Road Warriors, CA.
Division 65-69: 1st place Cascade Thunder from Washington state, 2nd place Medicine Hat Huff & Puff from Canada, 3rd place Sun City Rockets from Arizona.
Age Division 70’s: 1st place, the Stangs from Florida, 2nd place Brantford Nissan from Canada, 3rd place Rockies 70’s from Las Vegas.
“Overall the games went very well,” concluded Tudor. “I specifically want to thank the City of Mesquite Athletic and Recreation Department for the outstanding job of field prep and maintenance. A big thank you goes to the MSG volunteers, lead by Beth Caplinger, who manned the concession stand, the merchandise sales and raffle. I could not have done anything without them.”
