His shoulder aches and throwing down is painful.  He hopes a younger, stronger catcher appears for his Tuesday - Thursday night San Fernando Valley league games. And admitting THAT hurts more then the physical pain itself.

Succumbing to pain or quitting isn't in 54-year-old Jim Teninty's vocabulary. Playing through aches and pain is. "It's been going on for two months now," he says of the pain in the back of his right shoulder. "Been to a doctor?" he's asked. "No, I really should go," he admits, sounding fearful of what a doctor might discover.

Teninty's throwback attitude of fighting through pain and adversity sets the tone for his team. A band of never-quit, gray-haired, mostly over age 50 fastpitch softball players who call themselves the Southern California Masters.

For these Masters, aches and pains, sore shoulders and bum knees are a way of life. Retiring isn't an option, and if last season's success is any indication, they're getting better with time's passage.

"We played 100 games," said Teninty proudly. Well, almost. With a 67-32 won loss record, Teninty's Masters had their finest season in their ten-year history.

A season in which they played in two ASA Masters national tournaments, the 40-Over and 45-Over; finishing fifth in both with identical 4-2 records. Nine Masters were honored with the All-American designation. With 10 national tournament appearances, they've become one of the country's most recognizable Masters teams; missing only the 1997 season when they opted for the ASA C nationals.

But their season, beginning in March at the Palm Springs tournament, and concluding in November at Cathedral City, is grueling. Last season they played in nine tournaments and the Masters' travel league. And 2000 will be just as daunting.

It's a schedule that would make players half their age blanche. Why? "Because we've played fastpitch most of our lives," answered Teninty. "Like golf or any hobby, if you like it you do it. And we still love the competitiveness of it. It's become a way of life for us."

This way of life started for Teninty when he was 10, playing in a youth softball league in Hollywood. "We didn't have little league, we had youth fastpitch softball," he said. "I didn't play baseball until I was 16 when I tried out for a youth church baseball team. I couldn't believe the bases were so far a part. Throwing from shortstop was like throwing from the outfield."

At 28, baseball was given the heave-ho and he stuck to fastpitch, playing top-level competition throughout southern California. Now the Masters division is his love.

"We will be going to the 50-Over (Phoenix, Ariz.) and one forty (40-Over or 45-Over)," he said. "But I'm not sure which one yet." Ten tourneys and "C" ASA qualifiers are also on tap. And there's the Masters travel league, which he helped create last season.

"It's a place for the older players to play," said Teninty, "for us to
enjoy ourselves in a more relaxed scenario." And the league is quickly gaining popularity.  "With the other stuff going in the toilet, (C and B caliber leagues and tournaments) teams want in," said Teninty.

The Masters, who finished second to the Lakewood Jets, return with Palms Springs, Santa Barbara, LaMirada, the All-American Masters, and possibly a newly formed team run by pitcher Jack VanVoorst and Lanny Rupp. "We have two "B" teams with younger players that are lobbying to get in, but they're not going too, we're going to be a 40-Over league and that's it," said Teninty.

He'll play the youngsters in tournaments, but he doesn't want their young legs and wiry bodies in the Masters league, a league intended for those in their twilight years who still thirst for competitive fastpitch softball.  While chasing down alley shots and balls hit deep in the hole is out of the question, Teninty says there is one skill he will challenge the youngsters with: hitting a softball.

"We're as good a hitters as we've ever been," said Teninty. "Jerry West once said that the first thing to go is the legs, but the last thing to go is the shooting. Fastpitch is the same way. The legs may go, but the hitting stays." Or so it seems with the Masters. Their season-ending statistics sparkle with .300 and .400 averages. And none performed better than leadoff hitter Jesse Angel did.

A left-handed slapper, Angel has led the team for several years in hitting. This year was no exception with a team leading .463 batting avg. and on base percentage of .502. "He just keeps getting better," said Teninty. "Once again he led us in five categories." Besides his batting avg. and OBP, Angel was tops in at bats (201), along with 49 runs scored, and 93 hits.

"Jesse says that he's a better hitter than he was 20 years ago," said Teninty. "He has a pitching machine and batting cage and practices all the time. What makes him so good, is he's learned to slap and drive. If you try to come in and cheat on him, Jesse can plant and drive the ball."

And once Angel's on base, the big lumber steps up: Hugh Shaffer and Roger Penticoff. Shaffer led the Masters with 47 RBI and was second to Angel with a .408 average. "As usual, Hugh was clutch when we needed him," Teninty said.

Penticoff led the team with 8 home runs, 5 triples and 23 base on balls; and was third with 39 RBI. "Roger still hits them the farthest and the most often," said Teninty. Sluggers yes, but the pitching's solid too.

And manning the staff is 55-year-old, Ray Smith, whose 1999 36-15 record was a huge reason for their success. "Ray is as good as any pitcher on the Masters national level," said Teninty. "When he's on his A-game, he's really dominant (and) in the top 10-percent of Masters pitchers." And Smith helps himself at the plate; slugging five home runs (#2 on the team), four doubles, and two triples, along with a robust .348 average.

Helping Smith was Chuck Vranich with an 11-9 record; Brett Pobatz, 8-0; Jack VanVoorst, 8-4; Dave Meltz, 2-2; Larry Swartzendruber, 1-2; and Bob Otto, 1-0.

The team has changed some since 1990, but four faces have been with Teninty since day one: Jesse Angel, Hugh Shaffer, Bobby Smith, and Fred Wynne. All four will return in 2000, along with 14 others who make up the roster. "As long as they want to come back, they're all welcome back," he said. "I've never cut anyone."

Teninty acknowledges that the end will ultimately come. But when? He's not sure. "I take it year-by-year," he says. "I know we can't go on forever. At the end of every year, they ask me, 'are we going to do it again next year?' I've always answered, 'We're good for another year - and I've been saying that for ten years'.

"Everyone some time down the line meets their maker in softball. We haven't met ours yet."

Masters of distinction…Named to the ASA All-American 40-Over team: Ray Overstreet, first team, .526 avg. (10 for 19), 8 RBI; Hugh Shaffer, second team, .524 avg. (11 for 21) 7 RBI; Gil Ontiveras, second team, .391 avg. (9 for 23), 8 runs scored; Dave Long, second team, .421 avg. (8 for 19), 7 runs; Art Sanders, third team,.263 avg., 4 RBI, 5 runs; Ron Osborne, third team, 2-0 record.

ASA All-American 45-Over team: Art Sanders, first team, .765 avg. (13 for 17), 3 RBI, 5 runs scored; Steve Adams, second team, .421 avg. (8 for 19), 7 RBI; Jack VanVoorst, third team, 2-1 record.

…Art Sanders had a year to tell his grandkids about as he was named All-American in all three Masters national tournaments. Along with his 40 and 45-Over honors, he was selected as a third team member in the 50-Over; helping the Santa Barbara Fog to a fourth place finish.

…. Masters' age time-line? From the 40-year-old "youngsters", Ray
Overstreet and Sandy Crumrine, to the dean, Fred Wynne, who at 56 is old enough to be their father.

…Returning next season is Chuck Vranich, who after going through
career-threatening shoulder trouble, is back at full strength. Vranich's goal, says Teninty, is to pitch every weekend next season. For you younger players that tire easily, Vranich qualifies for the senior citizen discount at Denny's restaurants.


Bob Otto