GALLATIN, TENNESSEE – It was a different age bracket but the result was the same as the MARYLAND ROADRUNNERS added the 2011 SPA Women’s National championship to their 2010 SPA “50” Major national title.

The Maryland team earned the 2011 crown by coming out of the loser’s bracket to first edge the Golden Girls 11-9 and then force a “winner take all” game by defeating Jolico 12-6 before defeating Jolico 11-2 in the eventual title game.

“Jolico is a very good team,” Roadrunner “55”’s SPA Co-Manager of the Year Janet Mitchell said, “We play them at least eight or nine times a year because we are always at the same tournaments and have developed a friendly rivalry with them. At this tournament, we just had a better Sunday than they did. At the Huntsman games they beat us to win the silver medal, while we got bronze.”

Huntsman was one of only two tournaments in seven tries; the Roadrunners have not won this year. Championship trophies have come from tournaments at Pensacola, Columbus (Ohio), Raleigh, Gallatin and Fort Myers. The other finish was a second at Reno.

“This has been a very good year for us,” Mitchell said, “We have been really playing well.”

To keep their game sharp the majority of the team plays in a women’s 40-and-over league in Montgomery County, although they are all not on the same team but split up among a number of other teams. They also try to practice on the weekends.

“We really enjoy playing softball together,” Mitchell said, “The chemistry among us is nearly perfect we get along so well. We look forward to traveling together and the fellowship is just great. We are truly just like a Band of Sisters.

Mitchell points out one of the key factors to the team getting along so well together is the team code. A list of nine “rules” important to the team’s existence. Liz Dommel is credited with putting down in words the way in which the team operates.

                                         ROADRUNNER CODE

1.     We always play to win; but we do not win at all costs.  We win as a team, not as individuals.  We strive to be competitive in every game.

2.     We practice faithfully because we’ve made a commitment to our teammates and we do so because we know practice makes us better as a team.  We understand that people have commitments and may miss practices occasionally.  If the coaches and captains feel a player’s absence from practice has become a problem then it must be addressed with the player.

3.     We always give our best effort and we know that each of our teammates is also giving her best effort.  We make mistakes, but we do not dwell on them.  We move on and, in doing so, improve ourselves.  Negative body language and words cause stress.  A negative reaction to a mistake causes everyone’s focus to shift from the game to the mistake.

4.     We know we play best when we’re relaxed.  We work hard to avoid stress and turmoil because they take our focus from our goal.  We communicate openly with each other to avoid misunderstandings that may lead to stress and turmoil.

5.     We graciously share our playing time with our teammates because we think as a team and we play as a team.  We do not expect our playing time to be pre-determined and equal, but we want everyone to have the opportunity to contribute.

6.     We respect our coaches, are open to their instructions and abide by their decisions.

7.     We only exhibit and allow positive and supportive attitudes on the field of play.  We do not criticize, minimize or ostracize.  We treat our teammates as we want to be treated by them.

8.     Our skills, attitudes, chemistry and respect for each other and our coaches are the keys to winning.

9.     We support each other not only on the field of play, but also in our daily lives because we have become much more than a softball team.

The team is also self-sponsored supported by player’s donations, fund raisers and in 2011 some generous contributions by some of the husbands.

At Gallatin the team was led by Tournament MVP Sharon “Okie” Allen who carried an eye-popping .725 batting average. Earning All-American tournament recognition were Delores Grandison (.675), Sheila Hutchison (.667), Pam Mest (.650), Mary Byrnes (.600) and Maggie Bennett (starting pitcher, .570). 

Byrnes also joined with Mitchell received SPA Women’s “55”’s National Co-Managers of the Year Awards.

“Mary and I do everything together in handling the team,” Mitchell said, “We do the batting orders together and also make certain everybody plays. It is a great situation that we have each other, it makes it so much easier. Our teammates are so cooperative and helpful, which makes running our team this way possible.”

The rest of the National champion Roadrunners are: Liz Dommel, Joyce Kraimer, Barb Hyde, Gail Chambers, Kim Long and Patti Martin.

‘This has just been a great year for us and we are all looking forward to 2012,” Mitchell said, “It will be our 13th year together and I am sure it will be just as enjoyable as the previous twelve.”