The 10th annual World Series in 1998 was the first year that included a 55+ bracket for women.
The qualifying tournaments consisted of very few 55+ teams and consequently the 55+ were placed in brackets with 50+ teams.
The 55+ had two wins in the Capital Classic, placed 4th in the Manassas, VA ISSA Tournament and tied for 5th out of 11 teams in Penn Hills, PA that year.
The World Series was held in Palm Springs, CA and had six teams in the 55+ age group.
The members of that first 55+ World Series were:
Rosemarie Barber
Gloria Brattain
Pat Calder
Dian Castle
Flora Clark
Betsey Duce
Marlene Dunsmore
Lani Etherton
Joan Giampa
Beth Hersey
Darlene Huntsinger
Barbara Jamborsky
Elaine Joy
Joanne Malone
Catherine Miescier
Bettie Pell
Rita Ritter
Donna Turgeon
Janet Weeks
Coached by: Jim Bogan
The 55+ team came in 5th out of 6 teams with a record of 3 and 3 overall in that first World Series with a 55+ women's bracket. The other teams in that first 55+ World Series were:
2nd Wind (California)
Pelham Sportaculars (Canada)
Queen Bees (Washington State)
Silver Streaks (California)
Las Vegas Neons (Nevada)
Once again because of the lack of 55+ teams, the 55+ Golden Girls team were put in brackets consisting of mostly 50+ teams at the qualifying tournaments. The 55+ tied for 7th in Columbus, OH and placed 3rd in Penn Hills, PA that year.
The 11th annual World Series was held in Tallahassee, FL. and had only 3 other 55+ teams entered. The members of the 1999 World Series 55+ tournament team were:
Helen Boyd
Pat Calder
Dian Castle
Flora Clark
Betsey Duce
Helen Goetzke
Darlene Huntsinger
Elaine Joy
Margaret Keys
Toni Letaw
Gloria Mathers
Catherine Miescier
Bettie Pell
Rita Ritter
Jane Rogers
Donna Turgeon
Janet Weeks
Coach: Pat Blackmon
The Golden Girls 55+ placed 3rd with a 3 and 6 overall record.
The other 55+ teams in the 1999 World Series were:
Sportaculars (Canada)
Ohio Cardinals (Ohio)
California Spirits (California)
The 55+ entered four tournaments in 2000. They placed 4th in Syracuse, NY, tied for 5th in Columbus, OH, 4th place in Manassas, VA and 2nd place in Penn
Hills, PA.
The 12th annual World Series was in Canton, MI with eight teams entered. The members of the 2000 World Series 55+ tournament team were:
Zonnie Ayton
Helen Boyd
Flora Clark
Pat DeMattia
Betsey Duce
Lani Etherton
Beth Hersey
Darlene Huntsinger
Elaine Joy
Margaret Keys
Toni Letaw
Marilyn Mallery
Gloria Mathers
Joyce Pfeffer
Bettie Pell
Rita Ritter
Jane Rogers
Donna Turgeon
Janet Weeks
Coach: Linda Baziluik
The Golden Girls 55+ tied for 5th with a 1 and 5 overall record.
The other 55+ teams in the 2000 World Series were:
Sportaculars (Canada)
Ohio Cardinals (Ohio)
California Spirits Majors (California)
2nd Wind Majors (California)
Michigan Medical Miracles (Michigan)
Great Lakers (Michigan)
Pittsburgh Diamonds (Pennsylvania)
We started the season with the SSWC Qualifying Tournament in New Albany, Indiana, a suburb of Louisville, KY. Despite the rain, we wound up in 4th place overall.
The season continued with the Senior Olympics in Baton Rouge, LA in July. Whew, it was hot and humid! The games were played in the early mornings and evenings which helped with the climate, but the fields at night were not well lit so our playing was not up to par. We struggled to come in fourth place.
Next on the agenda was Glen Burnie, Maryland where we did take home the first place trophy.
We went to Penn Hills in July and had a wonderful time. We took it down to the last game and after a very tight match, we took first place.
The two following tournaments were severely marred by rain. Michigan in early September had torrential, cold rains and the tournament was virtually rained out. This was followed by the USSSA Senior Women’s World Championships in Gallatin, TN which was also played in the rain, but this time it was warm rain. We managed to come in third in this event.
In October, we traveled to St. George, Utah for our first participation in the Huntsman World Senior Games. It was the first year that women’s softball was an event. We had a wonderful time which was capped by our taking the gold medal.
Las Vegas was the next stop but this tournament was hampered by high winds. We eked out a third place finish here.
Mesquite, Nevada was the final stop of the year where we placed third.
April found us in Charleston, SC. It was unusually cool that weekend but we had a marvelous time coming in second place.
Onward to Columbus, Ohio where the weather was delightful and we finished in fourth place.
Next stop was Charleston, W. Va. For qualification for the National Senior Games (Senior Olympics). We did not qualify in Virginia as the state competition conflicted with the Ohio tournament. It was a pretty cool day but we did take the gold so that it all worthwhile.
Penn Hills was in July and boy, did it rain! The fields were virtually washed away. Unfortunately, we did not repeat our previous year’s performance but rather came in fourth.
Dorchester, Canada was our August tournament and the weather was absolutely perfect. We played very well and came in second facing some very tough competition.
September found us in Gallatin, Tennessee for the USSSA
where we just couldn’t get it together.
We had our worst finish in a long time by taking 9th place.
We went back to the Huntsman Games in October and
thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and gracious hospitality.
We came in third in this competition.
The season was closed by a tournament in Palm Springs, California where some of our members merged with other Golden Girls to form a single team.
We were busy in 2003. We took fourth place in cCarleston, fourth place in Penn Hills, fifth place in Tennessee, and won the silver medal at the Huntsman Games. Also, this was an Olympic year; we received the bronze medal at the Olympics.
55's at Huntsman Games in 2003