1987 held at Redding Softball Park, Caldwell Park, and South City Park in Redding, California on September 3-7.
Champion – Jolly Molly, Lebanon, Pennsylvania (91-6)
Runner Up – Magna Plating, Burbank, California
Members of the Jolly Molly team of Lebanon, Pa., came to Redding last week looking for gold. Although their hopes of striking paydirt never panned out, the team still left town with the mother lode. Jolly Molly defeated Magna Plating of Burbank 4-1 Monday to capture the Amateur Softball Association Men’s Class A Fastpitch National Tournament.
With the victory over Magna, Jolly Molly completed a six-game sweep through the winners bracket of the six-day, 39-team, double-elimination tournament held at Redding Softball Park, Tiger Field, Kiwanis No. 3 Field. Jolly Molly advanced to the championship bracket Monday morning with a 4-1 win in 10 Innings over rival Howe Construction of Honeybrook. Pa. About a week prior to the tournament an article in a Reading. Pa., newspaper about gold panning in Northern California tempted some members of the Jolly Molly team to give it a try. While there were no reports of any major strikes in any north state streams, the Jolly Molly players nevertheless packed away lots of gold in the form of trophies and plaques and some golden memories.
It doesn’t get any better than this,” said pitcher Milt Howe, who shut down Magna Plating on five hits with no strikeouts or walks.
“This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, I’ll tell you that,” said 33-year-old pitcher Gib Glessner, who won three games for Jolly Molly and said this is his last season. “That’s the only way I wanted to end (my career).
“I told them all at the beginning of the season we could go all the way. 1 knew we could,” Glessner said.
“This is the best team I’ve ever played on,” said Manager and left fielder John Yocklovich. “It makes you wonder what you can do next year, because you’ll never top this.” Sacking the most gold was Jolly Molly’s Roy Ilimmelberger. The second baseman delivered the game-breaker with a three-run home run in the fifth inning that gave Jolly Molly its 4-1 lead.
Himmelberger collected plaques for being the tournament’s most valuable player, for hitting the most home runs in the tournament with three, for being on the winning team, and an All-American award.
Magna’s lone run came in the first inning when Glen Harper singled home Steve Chase.
Jolly Molly improved its season record to 91-6.
- MVP – Roy Himmelberger, Jolly Molly
- Batting Champion – N/A
- Pitching Leader – N/A
FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
P – Gib Glessner, Jolly Molly
P – Milt Howe, Jolly Molly
P – Tracy Satterfield, Magna Plating
C – Scott Weiant, Jolly Molly
C – Don Nicolary, Mocha’s Restaurant
1B – Tim Himmelberger, Jolly Molly
2B – Roy Himmelberger, Jolly Molly
3B – Mike Ruddell, Magna Plating
SS – Tab Wenrich, Jolly Molly
OF – Tom Amundson, Stroh’s Kimbrough
OF – Steve Chase, Magna Plating
OF – Jerry Hostetter, Howe Construction
OF – Fred Bower, Jolly Molly
UT – Paul Iverson, Magna Plating
DP – Glen Harper, Magna Plating
SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
P – Dennis Green, Graf Graphics
P – Scott Peradotto, Stroh’s Kimbrough
P – Phil Rider, Stroh’s Kimbrough
P – Dennis Parks, Magna Plating
C – Bob Adams, Magna Plating
C – Don Trotter, Stroh’s Kimbrough
1B – Jeff Holt, Knights of Columbus
2B – Dan Boer, Modesto Oilers
3B – Steve Hern, Stroh’s Kimbrough
SS – Ernie Yarbrough, Magna Plating
OF – John Yocklovich, Jolly Molly
OF – Larry Forrey, Howe Construction
OF – Jeff Waddle, Perry’s Deli
UT – Dave Galvez, Micha’s
DP – Bruce Smith, Sacramento Spurs
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Jolly Molly, Lebanon, PA (6-0)
2. Magna Plating, Burbank, CA (7-2)
3. Howe Construction, Honeybrook, PA (4-2)
4. Micha’s Restaurant, Tucson, AZ (4-2)
5t. Stroh’s Kimbrough, Redding, CA (6-2)
5t. Modesto Oilers, Modesto, CA (3-2)
7t. Knights of Columbus, Fargo, ND (5-2)
7t. Graf Graphics, Cramford, NJ (3-2)
9t. San Diego Eagles, San Diego, CA (3-2)
9t. Skagit Marine, Mount Vernon, WA (3-2)
9t. Sacramento Spurs, Sacramento, CA (2-2)
9t. Nava Brothers, Hayward, CA (2-2)
13t. CSE Insurance, Sacramento, CA (2-2)
13t. IET, Salt Lake City, UT (2-2)
13t. National Amusement, Honolulu, HI (2-2)
13t. Perry’s Deli, Redding, CA (2-2)
17t. Los Lobos, Houston, TX (2-2)
17t. Memphis Royals, Memphis, TN (2-2)
17t. Metro Concrete, Boulder, CO (2-2)
17t. X-Cel, Grand Rapids, MI (2-2)
17t. Holland Plumbing, Dubuque, IA (1-2)
17t. Gary’s, Oswego, NY (1-2)
17t. Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA (1-2)
17t. Wooster Merchants, Wooster, OH (1-2)
25t. Hershey Equipment, Millersville, PA (1-2)
25t. Michigan HMO, Waterford, MI (1-2)
25t. Nielsen, Grand Rapids, NE (1-2)
25t. US Air Force, Aiea, HI (1-2)
25t. Machine, Omaha, NE (0-2)
25t. Abbott Lab, Ashland, NE (0-2)
25t. Budmen, Bedford, MA (0-2)
25t. Effingham Truck, Effingham, IL (0-2)
33t. Poe Timber, Tuscaloosa, AL (0-2)
33t. Riverview Lumber, Elkhart, IN (0-2)
33t. WTAC Radio, Flint, MI (0-2)
33t. TNT, Gibson City, IL (0-2)
33t. Scandia, Scandia, MN (0-2)
33t. Faslube, Columbus, OH (0-2)
33t. O’Donnell’s, Hannival, MO (0-2)
