Tournament Loss Does Not Dampen Charlestown Sluggers Enthusiasm
June 11, 2015
CATONSVILLE, MD (June 11, 2015) – On defense Charlestown Sluggers third baseman Carlton Butler caught a sharply-hit line drive down the line, and second baseman Al Blackburn stopped a ground ball up the middle of the infield, turning it into a double play.
On offense the home team Sluggers had the bases loaded on three occasions, led by the hitting prowess of Angie Beltram, Gene Martin and Walt Plitt.
It wasn't enough, though, as the Sluggers went down to defeat – their enthusiastic love of baseball unaffected -- in a double elimination softball tournament involving four Erickson Living-managed communities in Maryland and Virginia.
Teams from Greenspring (Springfield, VA), Riderwood (Silver Spring, MD) and Oak Crest (Parkville, MD) participated in the tournament held June 10 on Charlestown's campus baseball field. Results follow:
Riderwood defeated Charlestown, 8-1.
Oak Crest defeated Greenspring, 3-2.
Greenspring defeated Charlestown, 9-0.
Oak Crest defeated Riderwood,10-0, to take home the championship trophy.
Charlestown's Brass Band (Bill Sarraf, Jack Knoll, John St Amore, Fred Wolf, Ben Bulla, and Paul Bagley) entertained the nearly 100 spectators who watched the games. Cheerleaders Eugenia High and Rosemary Erdman rooted seemingly nonstop. Bethany Stiles, the grand-niece of Naomi McAfee, sang the National Anthem.
The Charlestown Sluggers team roster included the following men and women:
Elba Hinish
Harry Kahler
Bert Clegern (Coach)
Susan Lamar
Walt Plitt
Charles Denton
Al Blackburn
Norma Gunkle
Charles Denton
Angie Beltram
Gerald Martin
Naomi McAfee
Carlton Butler
Glenn Young
Marty Tewksbury
John Kasuda
Pat Kasuda