Third Annual All-Star Games Showcase Cape Cod Senior Softball League’s Growth, Talent

HARWICH – Van Khachadoorian sat at a shaded bench and looked out at the action unfolding on Memorial Field during one of the Cape Cod Senior Softball League’s All-Star games last Friday.

He had built the ballfield the Division 4 standouts were playing on, and he was instrumental in building the league, founded in 1987, now holding its third annual All-Star Game festivities. Khachadoorian, 93, was a player, commissioner, division president, umpire — and is a Hall of Famer. His efforts led to the creation of a second softball diamond (Memorial Field) for the seniors to play on next to Potter Field.

“This is my baby here,” Khachadoorian said.

The league godfather watched as Team American defeated Team National 17-10 in the Division 4 game. About 100 players, some of them in their late 80s, were selected from the total crop of about 400 across the circuit’s four divisions to play the showcase games.

Infielder Tom Farrell, 82, of Margaritaville Resort earned Most Valuable Player honors after the American win. Farrell has spent 23 years playing senior softball (open to men 50 and up and women 40 and up).

“It’s nice as you get older that you can still contribute,” Farrell, a South Dennis resident, said post-game.

Farrell credited the team effort in the victory (In addition to Margaritaville Resort players, Team American included players from Hy-Line Cruises, Van Rensselaer’s and Leonard Insurance). Everyone hit the ball well, he said.

Team National clawed back to within two entering the seventh and final inning, but the Americans added six to make their lead all the more comfortable, then hung on in the bottom half of the frame. Farrell made a nifty snag on a sinking liner behind second base for the inning’s first out.

“It’s an honor to be chosen from your peers, and to get the trophy is frosting on the cake,” Farrell said.

Khachadoorian threw out the Division 4 game’s first pitch. A new bench at Memorial Field also now bears his name.

“We just kept on growing and growing and growing,” Khachadoorian said of the league’s ascent.

That growth was clear as the parking lot at the softball fields filled while the afternoon continued. The Harwich Mariners played simultaneously next door at Whitehouse Field, their public address system audible through the trees separating the baseball from the softball. But who cared? The All-Stars were here. 

A first this year for the league has been the inaugural season of a co-ed division. Many of the players among that group’s four teams are rookies (the division did not select All-Stars nor play a game Friday).

Bob Potter, the league’s board director, said they’ve had more older people playing this year than in many years. Khachadoorian too spoke to the talent pipeline rising through the divisions.

“Our goal is to be the premier senior softball league in the country,” Potter said.

Team American held on for a 15-14 win in the Division 3 game. Team National fell just short of a frenzied comeback. 

The American side led 15-7 at the start of the seventh. For the Nationals, Jeff Kelly, 70, of Hero Down Foundation hit a bomb to deep left field to start the scoring. John Kraus, 69, of Cape Tunes drove in two more. 

Team National continued to add. They had the winning runs on base when Team American’s Jerry Joyce, 70, of Hanlon Shoe, caught a hot line drive at third base for the second out, then an easy grounder snuffed out the furious effort.

Team American’s Scott DePersis, 68, of Hanlon Shoe was named Most Valuable Player after a 3-for-4 day with four runs batted in and a pair of highlight catches out in right field — key considering the one-out rapid-fire rally in the seventh put up by Team National.

“Everyone was sweating a little bit,” DePersis said.

It’s DePersis’ third year playing in the league, his first as an All-Star. An East Sandwich resident, he retired three years ago as a chief engineer at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He emphasized that, above all, no one was injured during the Division 3 game.

“In the end, at this age, you like to win, but not getting hurt is a lot more fun,” DePersis said.

His remark proved prescient. At the start of the Division 1 game later that day, a throw to first struck a Team American baserunner in the head, knocking him unconscious. Harwich EMTs took the player off the field in a stretcher.

The Americans went on to win over Team National, 20-15. Ken Chan, 57, of Ryan’s received the Most Valuable Player Award. Chan went 4-for-4 with two homers and four runs scored. 

Also for the American side, Gerry Smith, 60, of Sea Dog Pub went 3-for-4 with two home runs. The two teams combined for 11 homers total.

“Our defense was stunning tonight and our bats stayed hot all night,” said Potter, Team American’s manager, according to a press release issued by division president Dan Keane.

Billy Campbell, 62, of Ryan’s earned the win pitching for the Americans, and Chan, in addition to his huge day at the plate, was credited for flawless defense.

“We played well, but they just played better,” Team National manager John Frazier said, according to Keane.

For the Division 2 showcase, Team American defeated Team National 14-5 in a game defined by the winning squad’s pitching and defense. Shawn Piche, 56, of Tugboats allowed just 11 hits and induced 20 infield putouts, the complete game earning him Most Valuable Player honors.

“The guys stayed positive all the way to the end, but it just wasn’t our night,” said Team National manager Tim O’Neil, according to a league summary.

Tony D'Allessandro, 73, of Tugboats started the scoring in the first inning for the Americans with a three-run homer. They led 8-0 after two, 14-2 after six. Mike Katz, 68, of Uncommoner, and Bob Doiron, 57, of Revolution Hearing, each recorded three hits, and Kevin Fitzgerald, 62, of Uncommoner drove in three.

“[Piche’s] pitching was outstanding, and our infield made every play both in the air and on the ground,” said Doiron, Team American’s manager, according to the league recap. “To hold that National lineup to five runs is incredible, considering only a few balls made it to the outfield.”