Winning championships is becoming second nature to Gary Pennington.
Pennington won the 65-plus and 75-plus age divisions with the San Diego Padres senior baseball team at the 2009 senior World Series in Phoenix, Ariz. Oct. 26 to Nov. 7.
More than 250 teams from all over the world come together each year to play in this fall classic in numerous age categories ranging from 18 to 70-plus years of age. The level of competition is very high and teams include former major league stars and many national team players. Jerry Harriston Sr. and Bill "Spaceman" Lee are two former big league stars who play in the tournament.
There is also a strong father/son division that includes many outstanding U.S. college and university ball players and their dads. Teams get to play in stadiums in the Phoenix area that are owned and operated by the Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners.
The Padres won the 65-plus championship with a record of 4-2.
In the semifinal they beat a team from Red Deer, Alta. 4-1. Dick Fitzgerald, a former Vancouver Mountie in the AAA Pacific Coast League and roommate of Brooks Robinson, pitched a five-hitter.
In the final against the Chicago Skyliners, San Diego won 7-5, with Fitzgerald pitching a scoreless ninth inning for the save.
San Diego won the 70-plus division with a perfect record of 7-0. Fitzgerald was outstanding again in pitching the final game against South Dakota, won by the Padres 5-3.
Pennington said he is amazed at the skill of some of his teammates despite their ages. In terms of Fitzgerald, he said his fastball is still clocked at over 70 miles per hour and his control is amazing.
"About a year ago Dick confided in me that he had recently walked his 100th batter in 1,100 innings of pitching. That's an average of only one walk per 11 innings, better control than even Greg Maddux who is considered the master of control in the majors," said Pennington. "It is such a privilege to play with such outstanding athletes."
Pennington has been playing with San Diego for several years.
He won his fourth and fifth World Series rings in the past 10 years of playing in the tournaments for the Padres and the Seattle Mariners. He hit for an average of .375 in the 65-plus age bracket and .364 in the 70-plus age category.
Highlights of his play during the series included beating out two drag bunts for base hits, driving-in the tying run in the ninth inning of a close game, and turning several double plays at second base.
"My teammates come from all over the U.S. and Canada and the camaraderie is great," he said. "We make friendships that transcend national boundaries. Last year I had the chance to play in the father/son division with my son Nicholas for the Mariners. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I hope that some of our dads on the Sunshine Coast and their older sons will consider entering the competition in years to come. It is such wonderful experience."
