Great Falls Optimist Club
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Great Falls Optimist Club |
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"Game of the Ages" Pits Championship Senior Softball Team Against Local Little League Coaches The Great Falls Optimist Club sponsored a “young versus seasoned” slow-pitch softball game Thursday, July 10, 2008 between local Little League Coaches and The Virginia Cavaliers, a championship travel team started in 1991 by Great Falls resident and Optimist Club member George Hersey. Held at Nike Park on field #5, the game started at 7:00 pm after the introduction of players. The game was sponsored by Great Falls Exxon, and proceeds from the gate and food sales were donated to the Great Falls Little League and The Virginia Cavaliers.
Approximately 600 boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 16 take part in the Great Falls Little League's baseball and softball seasons. The league's two sections are broken down by divisions based on both age and skill levels, fielding a combined 46 teams with accompanying managers and usually two coaches apiece. “The opportunity to be introduced to, acquire the skills,
and have the chance to experience this great American past-time is a memory the
kids will have for a life-time,” said new Club “Of course, our own George
Hersey, founder of The Virginia Cavaliers, was up for the challenge,” noted Club
president Lisa Jackson. “We thought about having the Cavaliers take on the
Little League All-Stars in a fundraising match-up, but then we decided it
wouldn’t be a fair contest – for the kids! So we asked the coaches to take them
on instead.” She noted that the Cavaliers, who now play in the 70-year-old
division, have won the Huntsman World Senior Softball Games as well as the 2006
ASA National Championship in their division, and travel all over the United
States to compete in tournaments organized by the Softball Players As “We love competing with teams from around the country,” Hersey said. “It keeps us young and motivates us to exercise. Plus we have a blast. I imagine we’ll all keep playing until it’s physically impossible.” Attendees were encouraged to
bring noise makers to help cheer on their team, and Little Leaguers were
encouraged to wear their team uniforms. In the stands were members of the Great
Falls Girls Softball All-Star Team that won the District 4 Championship for the
first time in Great Falls history. They were headed to the state tournament, but
took time out to watch their coaches play. “We hoped everyone would come out to
cheer on their coaches in what we knew would be an exciting and fun evening,”
said Mark Casso, a Little League and All-Star team coach. “Besides raising money
for a great cause, the game highlighted the fact
Game Summary By Mark Casso
Billed as a “Game of the Ages,"
the charitable contest between the Virginia Cavaliers and Great Fall Little
League Coaches was shaping up to be a classic (“for
the ages”) when after six innings the score was tied (4-4), but the seniors
sealed the outcome with a twelve run uprising in the top of the seventh to take
the game (16-6).
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member and active Little League mom Julie Casso, “and giving young people this
kind of opportunity is what the Optimist Club is all about.”
sociation,
the International Softball Federation, and the Senior Softball World
championships.
that
people of all ages can play sports and that softball is a game you can play for
decades. We all had so much fun, we're already making plans for a rematch next
year!” The Cavaliers, by the way, won 16-6.