Ex-Champs Relive the Summer of ’63

Once every few years the phone rings and the entire episode resurfaces.

Fred Seibly is no longer a set artist who most recently worked on the movie “Twister.” He steps back in time and becomes an exuberant 11-year-old boy who dashed recklessly from second base on a bloop hit and scored the winning run for Granada Hills in the 1963 Little League World Series.

And Dave Sehnem is no longer a successful businessman and pitching coach at Crespi High. His identity reverts to a poised, 12-year-old left-handed Granada Hills pitcher, unbeaten all season and the winner in Williamsport, Pa.

That’s how the pair--friends to this day--introduced themselves this week to Little League President Steve Keener in the stands at the Western Regional. Not as fortysomethings who played professional baseball and live a comfortable life in East Ventura County, but as part of Little League lore.

“Every year around this time, no matter where I am, I become interested in who is going to get [to the World Series],” Sehnem said. “When the World Series starts, it is a special thing. Many times, we’ve been on vacation and I tell my wife we have to stop and watch this game on TV.”

Both former players have taken a keen interest in this year’s team from Moorpark, the first from Ventura County to advance to the Western Regional.

Seibly lives in Moorpark with his wife, Beverly, and four children. Their 13-year-old son, Evan, plays in Moorpark Little League and was a member of the 12-year-old tournament team last season.

Sehnem lives in the Wood Ranch area of Simi Valley with his wife, Yvette, and four children. Their 10-year-old son, Sean, plays baseball and 12-year-old daughter, Lindsay, plays softball.

“Watching Moorpark play is nostalgic,” Seibly said. “[Moorpark third baseman] Justin Pizzola is a good family friend. Aside from it being 106 degrees at game time, it was very enjoyable.”

Although the 1963 regional was held in Sunnyvale, Calif., Moorpark assistant coach Gary Sharpe pointed out to Seibly that the Granada Hills team picture hangs in the Western Regional complex. The current stadium, which holds 6,500, opened in 1971.

Seibly and Sehnem spent a day this week with the Moorpark team, horsing around with the players in their dormitory and reminiscing.

For all the changes Little League has undergone in 33 years--Granada Hills used wood bats and the tournament had a single-elimination format--it remains a childhood highlight that resonates decades later.

“These boys [from Moorpark] will remember this for the rest of their lives,” Seibly said. “The friendships, the feelings of team unity, and the excitement of playing just about every day for weeks stays with you. It’s hard to duplicate.”

Especially when a team waltzes through district, state, regional and World Series play without a loss, the way Granada Hills did.

Sehnem and Tom Berry, a right-hander, alternated pitching every one of the team’s 13 games. Seibly, who played first base when Sehnem was pitching and shortstop when Berry pitched, was the third pitcher, but made only two appearances.

San Fernando gave Granada Hills its toughest game in district play. Granada Hills held a 1-0 lead when San Fernando loaded the bases with none out in the sixth and final inning. Sehnem took a deep breath and threw nine consecutive strikes to end the game.

Sehnem also pitched 8 2/3 perfect innings and had 18 strikeouts against West Covina before surrendering a single. Seibly relieved Sehnem in the 10th inning of the scoreless game and Sehnem won it with an RBI double in the bottom of the inning.

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Two regional victories propelled Granada Hills to Williamsport, where the team played in the first World Series televised nationally. Folks all over the country watched Granada Hills players who were so small new uniforms had to be ordered before they defeated Houston and Izmir, Turkey, to advance to the final against Stratford, Conn.

“Our biggest guy was about 5-foot-4,” Seibly said. “And we averaged about 80 pounds.”

Sehnem stood tall on the mound once again, however, and the final was tied, 1-1, heading into the bottom of the seventh. Seibly reached base on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on an overthrow.

With one out, Jim Walker hit a pop fly into short right field that could have been caught by either the second baseman or right fielder. Seibly began sprinting, however, and did not stop until he touched home plate and was mobbed by teammates.

“Everybody asked me what I was thinking,” Seibly said. “Had the ball been caught, it would have been an easy double play. But I had the angle and could see it was going to fall.”

Sehnem still has a grainy black-and-white tape of the game, and occasionally a group of former teammates gather to watch. Gary Anderson, a former outfielder, lives in Thousand Oaks and others are within driving distance.

The team visited the White House, although President John F. Kennedy wasn’t there, and attended a Washington Senators game. Soon, however, they were back to being regular Valley kids.

“The next thing I knew I was starting the sixth grade,” said Seibly, who was the only 11-year-old on the team.

Baseball continued to play a central part in their lives for many years. Seibly was drafted by the San Diego Padres as a pitcher out of Granada Hills High and played two years in the minors. Twice he was named All-City Section and threw a no-hitter against Birmhingham in his last high school appearance.

Sehnem starred at Crespi, setting records that weren’t broken until a few years ago--by Jeff Suppan, now of the Boston Red Sox. Sehnem pitched for Loyola Marymount before signing with the independent Portland Mavericks of the Class-A Northwest League.