Senior softball team places 2nd at tournament

About a dozen Canyon Lake seniors assembled a softball team representing their community to compete at the SoCal Senior Softball Tournament May 6-7 in Hemet. The team played five games at the weekend event and finished in second place.

The “Canyon Lakers,” whose ages ranged from 61 to 77, regularly play on teams in their respective age groups. However, as this one-time Canyon Lake team, they were placed in a bracket of 55-65 year-old “youngsters.”

The “Canyon Lakers” began the event by defeating the Long Beach Mafia, 31-15, and then by winning a game against Riptide, 21-13. The team fell behind in its next game by over 10 runs before rallying, but not enough for the needed victory.

In the semi-final matchup against the Samarai of Orange County, Canyon Lake battled and was able to advance to the championship game Sunday afternoon against Top Gun Fury of San Diego. The Canyon Lakers put up a valiant effort, but fell just shy of a win in the grand finale and finished in second place.

The team was managed by infielder Kent Skidmore and infielder/pitcher Glenn Stevenson.

“We were happy with our performance against much younger players,” Team Captain Kent Skidmore said. “But, it was the camaraderie of playing on the same team with our neighbors and representing our community that we’ll never forget.”

Canyon Lake team leaders were Orlando Lopez, who batted .941 with a home run, Larry Hixon, who pitched and batted .900, and Clay Lilley, who hit two home runs and made a few dazzling catches during the series.

Other Canyon Lake players on the roster included Dennis McCoy, Steve Jankowski, Bill Dailey, Rob Robertson, Larry Trudeau, Ron Martel, Edgar Carrol and Hank Alonzo.