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"Spotlight Award"
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Kenny Zornes - 13
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| Birthdate: |
10/20/45 |
| Birthplace: |
Logan, West Virginia |
| Occupation: |
College Administrator |
| Family: |
Wife: Liz, Children: Brian,
Anne, Janelle, Scott, and Ben. Daughter-in-law Song and grandson, Brady. |
| Hobbies: |
Rock climbing, golf, reading
and hitting against Ed Gamlin. |
| MSBL History: |
28+ Tigers 1989-2002
38+ Cubs 2002-present
Past American Division President |
| Favorite Resturant: |
Cafe Izmir |
| Favorite Opponents: |
Some of my fellow school
board members |
| Fantasy Job: |
Captain of the Starship Enterprise |
| New Rule Needed: |
Any player who refers to
me or any other player over 50 as "SIR" will be recorded as an automatic
out at his next at-bat. |
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| I am truly flattered
to be "Spotlighted" on the North Texas MSBL's Website. I join a very elite
group of men who have preceded me: Larry Roseborough, Carlo Strippoli,
Harold Butcher, Jesse Bean, and Randy Wooley. I have had the pleasure of
being a teammate of all of these men. Their stories and profiles make for
great reading. I suspect some still haven't finished reading Bean's tome
from October 2003. Hopefully I can add something worthwhile. |
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"This is crazy, This is crazy,
This is crazy"
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I joined the
league in '89 with the Tigers and stayed with them until 2002 when I went
over to the Cubs in the 38+ division. It has been a blast from the get-go.
I don't remember exactly how it happened but I got invited to play with
the Tigers without a tryout. I pulled out my old SpotBilt spikes that I
had last used when I was catching for Marshall University in 1965, which
was the last time I had played any baseball. I had played fast pitch softball
in the Army and slow pitch in YMCA leagues, but no baseball. I went to
a batting cage the day before my first game with the Tigers and took 20
or 30 cuts left handed and right handed without making contact. It was
not a pretty sight. Finally I managed to foul off a few pitches and left.
I really considered not showing up for that first game - I just knew that
this 44-year-old rookie was going to make a complete fool of himself. |
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I had made a commitment and there I was, in the starting line-up for the
Tigers. To say I was nervous would be an understatement, but that quickly
subsided when my first at-bat in more than 20 years was a homerun. |
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I
look forward to every game, every week. And although we have an outstanding
organization here in Dallas a with one of the biggest and best leagues
in the country, there is nothing that can compare with the MSBL World Series
in Phoenix each October. Every MSBL player needs to make at least one trip
to Phoenix. I plan to return for my 12th series this year in hopes of returning
home with a World Series ring as I did in 1999. Obviously, my best memory
of the World Series is winning it in '99, but there are other great stories
to tell and of course some that should never be told. |
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The most intense game I've
ever been in was in Phoenix against the Virgin Islands. It was a three
inning tie breaker to decide which team would advance to the play- offs.
We won that game 1-0. I had three chances at third base, with my heart
pounding, knowing that an error could cost us the play-offs and I managed
not to boot any of those easy grounders.
In a game with Harold Butcher
as the starting pitcher and me catching, Harold and I discuss how he wants
me to set up behind the plate, go over our signals and other typical pre-game
items. We're the home team and the first batter is at the plate. Harold
looks in for the signal, I put down one finger and Harold shakes me off.
He shakes off the first freaking pitch of the game. I'm cussing, the batter
and umpire are laughing their butts off while I head to the mound to confer
with the spaceman. Harold tells me he always likes to start a game with
a curve. I called the fast ball again but Harold threw the curve anyway.
We had a great time! |
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I have enjoyed every minute of
my time in the MSBL and I plan to be like the Energizer bunny - I'm just
going to keep on going. I think the best way for me to sum up how I feel
about playing baseball again, beginning at 44 and now at 58 is what I say
to myself at some point in every game in Phoenix, " Its the middle of the
week, I'm 58 years old, and I'm playing baseball in a big league park-
it doesn't get any better than this." |
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