Softball: TBW wins it all!

TBW Coed Softball Team -- 2003 Ocala Regional Sportsplex Fall Softball League Tournament Champions. (L-R) Meghann Rager, Steve Wenk, Nicole Ercolano, John Franz, Donna Skuhrovec, Glenn Smith, Shannon Stamper, Tanya Jordling, Raci Lewis, Cindy Frederick.

There is a saying that has held true throughout time -- Always expect the unexpected.

It is a saying that was proven true once again on a rainy autumn Sunday recently by the Taylor, Bean & Whitaker coed softball team.

It had been a long season for the TBW team, which had completed its regular season with a 5-7 record.

Heading into the season ending, one-day, double-elimination, winner-take-all tournament of the Ocala Regional Sportsplex Fall Softball League on Sunday, November 8, 2003, the team did not have high expectations.

"Not a chance," predicted outfielder Glenn Smith. "I knew our team had gotten better over the season, but I thought maybe three games and we're sitting in the stands watching the rest of the tournament."

"We were all pumped up for the tourney and definitely weren't going to go down easy," added catcher Nicole Erolano. "But, we all went there to earn respect that day, and we did."

Yes, indeed they did.

Six games and eight-and-a-half hours after they stepped onto the field for the first game of the day at 2 p.m., TBW had clinched the tournament title with a 6-1 record on the day and a two-game sweep over DAYCO, 17-16 and 15-12.

So, how did they do it?

Simple. On that Sunday the TBW team finally learned how to win.

A look at the team's regular season 5-7 record is deceiving. In the seven games TBW lost, they had led or been tied late in each game. Then, in each of those games, they allowed their opponents to go on a late scoring run that cost them each game.

How does a team learn to close out a game and win? How does a team find "will to win" within themselves?

"I shared a statement with my fellow teammate, Steve Wenk, earlier in the day, of 'I'm not losing today,'" Ercolano said. "He said, 'me either!'"

It was a simple statement shared between two teammates, but by the end of that Sunday, everyone on the TBW team found that same "I'm not going to lose" attitude" within themselves. That's what the TBW team learned that day and that's how they won the tournament title. They believed in themselves and they were determined to win.

Here's how they did it.

Game 1 vs. CBO

During the regular season, CBO had defeated TBW all three times they played. This game seemed to be more of the same when CBO opened up a 5-3 lead after the first inning. Then in the second inning, things began to turn, as TBW scored six runs to go up 9-5, while holding CBO scoreless. Over the next two innings, TBW extended its lead to 19-13, then finally closed it out with another five-run barrage in the sixth to end the game 24-13.

Game 2 vs. DAYCO

TBW had beaten DAYCO two out of the three times they played during the regular season, however, as time would tell on this day, DAYCO was the team to beat. Even with some solid offense in the first two innings by Ercolano, John Franz, Fred Cardle, and a home run by Smith, DAYCO still held a 14-7 lead. Then, with their defense stiffening, TBW came back strong in the third and fifth innings, scoring nine runs to DAYCO's two, to tie the game 16-16. But then they allowed DAYCO to score nine unanswered runs to give the game to DAYCO 25-16. Once again, TBW could not stop a late inning rally. Now they could not lose another game or they would be out of the tournament.

Game 3 vs. CBO

It turned out to be the game of the day. TBW came out strong to take a 7-2 lead after the first inning. The teams mirrored each other in the second and third inning, with TBW scoring three in the second and holding CBO scoreless, while CBO returned the favor in the third to make it 10-5. After getting one run each over the next inning, the teams entered the last inning with TBW up 12-6. In the last inning, after five runs were scored by Franz, Smith, Cindy Frederick, Raci Lewis and Meghann Rager, TBW seemed to hold an insurmountable lead at 17-9. Then trouble struck.

The CBO bats came alive and they scored nine straight runs to make it 17-16. It seemed like TBW's season long problem of not being able to stop late inning scoring runs would come back to haunt them and put an end to their season. They just could not seem to find a way to stop the CBO onslaught.

One CBO player, Eric Levine, thought, for sure, his team was going to win.

"Absolutely," he said. "Especially since our previous victories through the regular season came in similar fashion. They (TBW) would generate a sizable lead during the course of the game, and within an error-filled inning late in the game, we would jump ahead. We had no reason to believe we wouldn't do it again."

All seemed lost for TBW as CBO had men on second and third with two outs late in the inning.

"I was thinking, uh oh, we cannot let them have it like this," Ercolano recalled. "We worked too hard."

Then at just the right time, TBW found the answer, as player/coach Franz explains.

"We only needed one out and we knew that CBO could get their bats going at anytime, so I really wanted to get that last out as quickly as possible," said Franz afterwards. "They had two runners on second and third. The batter gets up and hits a line drive at third. Steve Wenk was on third, and it was a good thing. The ball was hit high and hard, and it took all of Steve's six-feet, two-inches to make the catch and end the game. I think I felt relief and also very optimistic about our chances in the tourney (after that)."

After the win over CBO, other TBW players also began to believe they had a chance to win the tournament as well.

"After that miracle, I knew we had a chance down the road," Smith added.

Game 4 vs. Reeses Renegades

The Renegades had defeated TBW two out of three times this season, and were another team in the five-team league that had given TBW fits all season long. But not this day, as TBW's bats came alive and after three innings, TBW had a 20-4 lead and the game was called. TBW had three home runs in this game by Franz, Smith and Cardle.

Game 5 vs. DAYCO

TBW had played strong against DAYCO in the second game of the tournament and the team believed they could beat them. With the play stretching into the evening and the players getting tired, defense was the first thing that weakened for both teams, and by the end of the third inning, TBW held a 17-13 lead. DAYCO made their run for the lead in the fourth inning, holding TBW scoreless and getting three of their own to close it to 17-16. TBW came back strong, scoring six unanswered runs of their own to make it 23-16. Then after DAYCO scored five runs, TBW used their new found confidence to slam the door shut and end the game 23-18.

The day wasn't over just yet though. Since DAYCO had gone undefeated up to that point, the two teams would play a one game playoff for the title.

Game 6 vs. DAYCO

It was late at night now and the players on both teams were exhausted. The final game would be more of a game of attrition and which team had the more determined players.

TBW came out strong, opening up a 6-0 lead by the end of the third inning. In the fourth inning, TBW scored another seven runs before DAYCO finally came to life and scored five of their own. At the end of the fourth, TBW led 13-5. Then after scoring two more runs, the TBW bats fell silent, while the DAYCO bats came to life. At the end of the fifth inning, TBW held a slim 15-11 lead. Then after DAYCO scored one run in the sixth inning, it looked like it would once again come down to whether TBW could stop a late inning rally.

"The last game ended almost the exact same way that the second game vs. CBO did," Franz said. "They (DAYCO) had two runners on and a high line drive went to Steve Wenk again."

And once again, Wenk made the catch, only this time, that final out didn't just give TBW the game, it gave them the 2003 Ocala Regional Sportsplex Fall Softball League title as well.

"At that point I think that I was ready to fall on the ground with exhaustion," Franz said. "I was extremely happy for the team. I had told them all season that they could beat any of the teams out there, and even thought they only finished third in the regular season, I knew thy had the potential to win it all."

"When Steve caught the last out I thought this is awesome and so worth playing GREAT teamwork for eight and a half hours straight hours," Eroclano said.

Added Smith, "I was in total disbelief. I didn't realize how much determination and guts this team really had. We showed a lot of heart and stuck together. I don't know how many people can be in shape for six grueling games of tournament softball in windy, cold and rainy conditions, but these ladies and gentlemen did it. I was very proud of everyone for not giving up."

Even CBO's Levine had kind words for the surprising TBW win. "I knew they weren't lacking talent by any means, but DAYCO was the obvious favorite," he said. "It's cliched, but TBW wanted it more."

Epilogue: After basking in the glory of their 15 minutes of fame, the TBW (and CBO) players returned to their regular lives the next day...

TBW Tournament Players

* John Franz returned to his Level II tech support position, where he assists internal customers with computer problems. Franz also is training for the upcoming men's softball league.

* Nicole Ercolano went back to her position as a bond trader, as well as putting the finishing touches on the planning for her wedding. One week after the tournament on Saturday, November 15, she became Mrs. Nicole Erolano-McDermott.

* Glenn Smith headed back to his job in the accounting department, where he sees and reconciles all of TBW's cash purchase with investors. Smith also works out every lunch hour in preparation for the upcoming men's softball league.

* Steve Wenk also works in Level II tech support assisting internal customers with computer problems. He also will participate in the men's league.

* Don Ferraro, who is self-employed, went back to work in his own business.

* Fred Cardle headed back to his job at Nobility Homes.

* Meghann Rager returned to her position as an escrow analyst at CDF, where she runs all of the analysis on the loans TBW holds.

* Donna Skuhrovec headed back to her position as MBS shipping leader. BTW, Skuhrovec also won TBW's best Halloween costume contest as well.

* Raci Lewis headed back to CDF as well, working in the Whole Loan Delivery department.

* Cindy Frederick went back to CBO where she works in client relations.

* Shannon Stamper went back to her job at the Community Bank on SR 40.

Other TBW Team Members During the Season

* Tanya Jordling returned to her position in insuring at CDF.

* Jimmy Wolfe returned to his truck driving job, while his wife Kathy Wolfe is handling customers during the Christmas Shopping season in her position as a floor manager at Burdines.

* Lauren Rager, Meghann's sister, returned to her position as a CNA at the Palm Gardens Nursing Home.

* Pedro Williams, who only played in a few games this season for TBW before his car broke down, is now at home in Crystal River, Florida, where he works as an underwriter.

* And finally, TBW opponent, Eric Levine, returned to his position as Special Projects Administrator at CBO, working on projects for CBO President Darren Green.

A special thank you goes to Linda Rackmyre, the #1 softball scorekeeper in the league. Linda was kind enough to lend me her notes to write this article.