Winning is becoming a routine thing for Gary Pennington.
The Creeker soon to be Aussie won a second straight title with the San Diego Padres in the 65-plus division at last month's Men's Senior Baseball League World Series in Phoenix, Ariz.
Pennington, who played second base, went 12 for 28 at the plate, batting .429. He also reached base on two errors and two walks, which pushed his on-base percentage to .571. He also scored 11 runs and drove in 10.
The Padres went 7-0 at the event, beating teams from Philadelphia, New Jersey and New England and two teams from South Dakota and Tucson.
"Every year I go down to this event I'm just amazed at the calibre of play and the talent," Pennington said. "When you get to play with guys who are former pros and Major Leaguers, it's like playing in your own field of dreams."
But while the rest of his Padres' teammates sat back and savoured their win, Pennington still had more ball to play.
During the second week of the event, Pennington played for the local Howe Sound Hounds in the 38-plus division and the Seattle Mariners in the 58-plus division.
The Hounds finished with a record of 2-3-1 and Pennington said it could have been much better.
"It was a very tough round and our team did well," he said. "Some of the games were very close and could have gone either way."
As for the Mariners, Pennington helped that team to an 8-1 record and the World Series title in that division. He went four for 11 at the plate with the squad.
Pennington now has three World Series rings from the event in four years.
"The Mariners were one of the best teams I have had the privilege of playing on," Pennington said. "I had the opportunity to play with John Olerud Sr. It was easy to see why his son [John Olerud] is such a class act in the big league. John Sr. played for several years at the Triple A level and now is a medical researcher at the University of Washington."
Other highlights for Pennington were batting against Bill "Spaceman" Lee who pitched in the Majors with Boston and Montreal.
Pennington got on base by virtue of a fielder's choice against the Spaceman.
"I also met his aunt Marybelle Lee, a lovely lady now in her 80s, who played in the Women's Professional Baseball League from 1944 to 51," he said. "You will remember the movie A League of Their Own. Marybelle says the film is pretty accurate and that many of her contemporaries claim to be the ones who are depicted in the movie. Her glove and spikes are hanging in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
"It was certainly an honour to meet this fine lady."
Pennington is now off to Australia to meet his wife and son who have been living there for several months, while Pennington wrapped up the family's affairs on the Coast.
The family hopes to return to the Coast sometime towards the end of 2005 or early 2006.
He said he plans to continue playing and coaching in Australia and hopes to play at next year's World Series if the time is right.
"I just love this event," Pennington said. "Baseball is very important to me, and I wouldn't stop for anything."
