Team Captain Morgan Prevails in Over-the-Line Tourney

With an overbearing afternoon sun and a seemingly insurmountable task beating down on them, Rick Smith, Phil Zimmerman and Craig Engelman got hot.

Smith went 16 for 22 in the final two games, Zimmerman 18 for 22 and Engleman 13 for 20 as the trio representing Team Captain Morgan rallied from the losers’ bracket to defeat Johnny’s Surf Club twice to win the 39th annual Old Mission Beach Athletic Club World Championship Over-the-Line Tournament Sunday at Fiesta Island.

After beating the defending champion, Ryno Athletic Club, in the losers’ bracket final, Team Captain Morgan skunked the team that sent them there, Johnny’s Surf Club, 23-12 in four innings, and 15-4 in three innings, to win their first title as a threesome.

Bad back and all, Zimmerman, who along with Engelman had won the 1987 championship, provided the winning blow in the final with his third home run of the game, a three-run shot over the head of Brooks Herald.

“The first time was very special,” Zimmerman said. “That will probably always mean the most to me. But when you win it again, it is very sweet, very sweet indeed.”

Zimmerman, 30, added that Smith’s enthusiasm was probably the key this year.

“Right from the beginning, they came out and told me they were looking for something to spark the team,” said Smith, 31, who was added to the team this year. “I’m very energetic. My role was to try to keep them pumped up.”

Said Engelman, 27: “This was out of control. This was not the way to win this thing, but it’s a lot sweeter when you do.”

Kyle Robbins of fourth-seeded Johnny’s Surf Club was the most dominant player in the tournament--he made only seven outs in eight games.

In Other Divisions:

Southwestern Roof/Team Stubbies (Camille Medina, Mary Ann Casillas and Mary Watson) defeated the defending-champion Lady Ryno’s, 7-4, to win the women’s open championship.

Louisville Sluggers (Mike Selwood, Paul Contreras and Mark Hughley) beat Shamrock Masonry, 39-20, for the men’s century title.

Silver Snakes (Mike Shaughnessy, Jim Carns and Tom Shine) won the men’s 40-and-over title with a 15-3 victory over Old Friends.

Sand Dollars (Molly O’Neill, Johanna Helm, Chesca Pietila) defeated Perrault Trucking, 13-1, in the women’s century final.

Wise But Poor (Ron Paris, Ken Bailey and Merle Cummings) won the men’s 50-and-over title; Stands with Bat (Bonnie Tincup-Barker, Jan Pierce and Gloria Henson) took the women’s 40-and-over championship; and Take It Easy (Lona McMorran, Barbara Blind and Sue White) won the women’s 50-and-over title.