The Fresno Bee
Copyright 2004. The Fresno Bee. All Rights Reserved.
Thursday, September 9, 2004
SPORTS
DIGEST
Bee staff reports
Harlen Chapman of Fresno celebrated his 50th birthday Sunday by pitching
his team to the title at the Amateur Softball Association Class C
national fastpitch tournament in Hastings, Neb.
Chapman pitched a four-hitter for Bakersfield Energy Link in a 3-1
victory over the Roadrunners of Maryville, Mo., completing Bakersfield's
8-0 tournament sweep.
Chapman struck out the side in the seventh then, after the award
ceremony, walked to the mound, took off his size-11 cleats and dropped
them there.
"That was my last game. I'm retiring," said Chapman, who works for
Grainger Industrial Supply.
Another Fresnan, Jeff Ansiel, 38, was named to the A.S.A. All-America
team. He went 2 for 3 with an RBI in the title game and 1-0 as a pitcher
in the tournament. He also caught and batted as the designed hitter.
Chapman and Ansiel played for the Fresno River Rats traveling team this
season. The River Rats qualified for the national tournament but
couldn't attend. So Bakersfield picked up both of them for the trip to
Nebraska.
"I've been playing since I was 17," said Chapman, who won three games at
the tournament. "It was a nice way to go out."
The Clovis Rockets 14-and-under team will hold tryouts at the Buchanan
High Softball Complex at 10 a.m. Sunday. Details: (559) 277-0081.
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