One of the Chicago teams in the 35th annual Gay Softball World Series is Buck U's, while another team features three former Buckeyes.
The C-Division will feature Buck U's and the Green Team Properties/Gotcha Covered Blinds G-Force, a 16-member team that, ironically, features three who went to Ohio State UniversityRob Burton, Mike Reid and Rob Scaffidihome of the Buckeyes.
Experience and tenacity are the strength of the G-Force, said team captain Danny Tag, 44, who plays shortstop and will be participating in his 12th Series.
"I think Chicago teams will have a bit of a disadvantage, since many of us will be doing double duty trying to make sure the tournament runs smoothly," Tag said.
Scaffidi and teammate Joe Cappelletti are members of the eight-person Series 2011 Board of Directors.
"There's a lot of luck and good timing involved in winning it all," said Tag, who graduated from Glenbrook North High School in north suburban Northbrook.
Players to watch on G-Force:
Randy Detert, pitcher
Joe Green, catcher
Brian Kettner, second base
Here's a look at the other Chicago teams participating in the six-day series, which starts Aug. 29, and will be played at multifield complexes in Schaumburg, St. Charles and Elmhurst. (Comments are from each team captain.)
Spin Menace (A-Division):
Captain: Cameron Turner
Age: 38
Position: Outfield
Series history: Turner has played in the Series five times.
About the Menace: This is the team's second season playing in the top-tiered A-Division. "We are largely the same team as last year. Many of us played together in the B-Division as the Spin Cougars prior to moving up to the A-Division," said Turner.
Strength of the team: "Last year, our team was built primarily on speed, youth and pitching. We were all or nothing as a hitting team and were lacking a little bit in power in comparison to the other A-Division teams. This year, we have added some power and have six or seven guys in our lineup capable of hitting a home run over a 300-foot fence. I think our strength this year is that we truly are a complete team, capable of playing just about any type of game."
About the 2011 Series: "Playing in the Series is always a lot of fun," said Turner. "We have all made friends across the country through softball, and any time we can all get together to play ball and socialize, it is a great time. To play the Series in Chicago, where we will have a lot of fans and the luxury of sleeping in our own beds, that is really exciting. I think it gives us an advantage over teams traveling from other cities."
Little-known fact about the Menace: In addition to CMSA league play on Sundays, the team participates in a straight league in Elmhurst, and the Menace is currently in first-place in that league.
Menace players to watch: Matt Walus, outfield; Kevin Ball, pitcher; and Joe Bland, catcher/infield
Spin Cougars (B-Division):
Captain: Mark Febonio
Age: 52
Position: Infield and pitcher, though relegated to being a pinch-runner due to an injury
Series history: Febonio has played in it 17 years.
Strength of team: "Versatility and confidence. We have a bunch of players who can, and do, play multiple positions as needed. We have a balanced line up that gets contributions from everyone top to bottom."
About the 2011 Series: "[I am] thrilled every year to participate. I've been very fortunate to have played in the World Series every year that I've played gay softball."
Thoughts about playing in a Series in Chicago: "Very excited. I know that all the people visiting will have a blast while they are here and I know the Series organization is in very good hands, so I expect it to be one of the best."
(Complete this sentence:) My team will win its division if ... "we stay healthy, remember last year and get a few lucky bounces. We will be playing in our second Series as a team. We surprised folks last year at the Series by finishing in the top 10 in our division. We can improve on that if we play with the same level of intensity and if we remain focused throughout the week."
Little-known fact about the Cougars: "We love cooked bread!"
Final thought: "Our team is comprised of players who contribute in many different ways. We get strong pitching and timely hitting with solid defense to boot. We don't have any superstars or anyone who stands [out] head and shoulders above the rest of the team. We do have key players whom we count on to perform to their capabilities, but we play as a team, win as a team and lose as a team. We expect to do a lot more winning than losing."
Cougars to watch: Todd Wickens, first base; Gil Minor, shortstop; Pete Kavanagh, catcher; and Olin Eargle, infield
Downtown Bar & Lounge (B-Division):
Captain: Paul Milinsky
Age: 33
Position: Left field
Series history: Milinsky has played in two past Series.
DTB strength: "Our ability to go out on the field and just have fun."
About the 2011 Series: "It's going to be the best World Series yet. We are excited to show other teams from across the country how great of a city Chicago is."
(Complete this sentence:) Your team will win its division if ... "we can bring our A-game like we are capable of."
Little-known fact about Downtown: "The biggest argument our team had all year was what color our jerseys should be."
DTB players to watch: Brian Addison, shortstop; Larry Kuhn, second base and outfield; and Aaron Brost, pitcher
Buck U's (C-Division):
Captain: Mike Hendricks
Age: 52
Position: Infield
Strength of Buck U's: It's experience. The core of the team has played together for about 10 seasons.
Now pitching: Jeff Xenakis works in the medical field when off the playing field.
First baseman: Paul Morrissey was on the Spin Cougars when that team won the World Series two years ago in Milwaukee. Morrissey also umpires in the CMSA league.
Championship fame: Outfielder M. B. was a World Series winner in 2009, although he played for a Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based team in the C-Division at the time.
About Buck U's: "Our success this season is because we're extremely supportive of each other and don't get down on each other. We've become friends off the field, not just on," Hendricks said.
Buck U's players to watch: Tom Alcock, outfield; Jeff Book, third baseman; Chuck Brinkman, outfield; Bob Webb, infielder; Joe DellaMonica, outfield
Spin Wildcats (C-Division):
Captain: Robert Paradise
Age: 50
Position: First and third bases
Series history: Paradise has played in the Series three times.
Strength of the Wildcats: "The mix of veteran players with young talent."
About the 2011 Series: "It is an honor to represent our city in this World Series, especially since it is here in Chicago, the greatest city in the world. It will be great to play on some awesome fields.
Little-known fact about the Wildcats: Pitcher Phil Runion played in the 1983 Gay Softball World Series, the last time the event was held in Chicagoand Runion is heterosexual. His daughter, Jen, also plays in the CMSA open divisionand she, too, is straight.
Wildcats to watch: Ryan Whitney, outfield; Patrick Keegan, outfield; Tim Worthington, outfield; and Ernesto Mejil, shortstop
Chicago Breeze (D-Division):
Captain: Marcela Haber-Bishop
Age: 35
Position: Pitcher and catcher
Series history: This is her first Series appearance and, with the exception of one pick-up player, is the first Gay Softball World Series for all.
Sponsor: Jackhammer
Number of team players on the team: 13
About the Breeze: "When I heard about Chicago being the host [for the Series], I was able to get a core of seven players. From the start [of the season,] the reason for me trying to create this team was because we wanted to play in this year's Series. This was a simple decision to gather a few more to make our dream happen. It just worked out with a few last minute add-ons that I was able to get enough to confirm a team, and from there it was simple what I needed to complete this team with the pick-ups we are allowed to get."
Strength of team: "A great mix of men and women, skills, experience, and talent."
Thoughts about participating in 2011 Series: "Excited and nervous"
Thoughts about playing in a Series in Chicago: "Excited enough to come back to play with the men after two years of not playing in [the predominantly male] Open Division on Sundays.
(Complete this sentence:) Your team will win its division if ..."we can play solid as a team and we can tap into a 'giving it our all' attitude at every play, the same attitude that to this point we still don't know what we really mean when we say 'find the cheddar,' and by supporting each other on and off the field. If we can have fun, then we will win regardless. Finding the cheddar to me has been the process of what got us there with the phrase, which was just having a good time and being silly as a group and making a fun innocent joke that only we will know who that came to happen.
Little-known fact about the Breeze: "We are still wanting to find MORE cheddar."
Final quote: "I truly believe that our team is as good as our lowest player; that is how I manage my teams. My top three [players] mean nothing to me unless I can get my bottom three to at least want to try to be as good as my top player. This is a team sport and everyone has something to offer. ... This is just a game and, at the end, if you can't walk way with some of the best friendships, regardless of your skill, then we are all doing this for the wrong reasons."
Breeze players to watch: Byron Geib; Yvette Holt; Danny Steffel; Jackie Schmit; and Jaime Angeles
Mi Tierra Crush (D-Division):
Captain: C. Rodrigo Carrillo
Age: 35
Position: Left field
Series experience: Carrillo has played in the Series five times; the team has played in the Series three times.
About the Crush: "We have played together for over six years. We have taken pride in the fact that we all have a great relationship, both on and off the field. Just recently a few of our core players decided to branch out and create their own team. It was a tough moment for our team both losing our teammates and finding new ones. We wished our friends well and we have found four [new] players, which has re-energized our team. We are currently in first-place [in the local league] and that is tribute to the fact that our new players have brought great energy and revitalized the team. We have not been in first place in years."
It's a fact: The Breeze finished in second place earlier this summer at a weekend tournament in Minnesota.
About the World Series: "I am looking forward on our new team competing in the World Series as a chance to meet new people and the potential of bringing home a trophy in our home town. Our team will win our division if we [play as] a team. We come together in stressful situations and we always manage to stay cool. As long as we do it the Crush way, we can win."
Crush players to watch: Joe Wirtz; Lonny Glover; and Yvette Vasquez