Front row, left to right: Lee Wright, Ralph Pina, Alex Zanini, Cary Kokayashi, Louie Zanini, Mike Pina, Craig Jacques, Al Mejia. Back row: Wally Kobayashi, Ray Alsdorf, Robert Ramirez, John Serpa, Jim Mattingly, John Ramirez, Gene Hernandez, Robert Pina, Rick Souza, Leroy Clevenger, Doug Holste, Carmen Giglio (Tournament Director).
1989 SERPA’S ARCO MEN’S FASTPITCH SOFTBALL TEAM
ASA CLASS C NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
In July 1989, Serpa’s ARCO Class C Men’s Fastpitch Softball Team won the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Class C Men’s Regionals and San Joaquin Metro tournaments to qualify for the ASA Class C Men’s Fastpitch National Softball Tournament at Kingman, Arizona.
Serpa’s ARCO won two games, lost one, and then won nine consecutive games to become the first ever ASA Men’s Fastpitch Softball team from Stockton to win a National Championship. Their record for the tournament was eleven wins and one loss. The final nine consecutive games were played from 8:30 a.m. through 10:30 p.m. to earn the National Championship banner. This completed their season with a record of 42 wins and 11 losses.
For the National Tournament, Leroy Clevenger was named the tournament’s MVP, pitching for four wins (one no-hitter), with no losses and two saves. At the tournament, the team’s batting average was .338 with five home runs. The pitching staff had the one no-hitter and three shutouts with a 2.15 earned run average. Clevenger, Ray Alsdorf, Gene Hernandez, Al Mejia, Lee Wright, and Alex Zanini were all named to the All-American Tournament Team.
The team members were: Lee Wright, Ralph Pina, Alex Zanini, Gary Kobayashi, Louie Zanini, Mike Pina, Craig Jacques, Al Mejia, Wally Kobayashi (coach), Ray Alsdorf, Robert Ramirez, John Serpa, Jim Mattingly, John Ramirez, Gene Hernandez, Robert Pina, Rick Souza, Leroy Clevenger, Doug Holste, and Carmen Giglio (tournament director).
