The Steel City Softball League’s Pittsburgh Peacocks represented Pittsburgh in the annual Gay Softball World Series, held during the week of Aug. 18 in Portland, Ore. A total of 130 teams from throughout the United States and Canada participated.
Competition in Division C started with three round robin games on Aug. 20 and Aug. 21, when the Peacocks were defeated by the Seattle Chaos, the San Francisco Renegades and the Chicago Hunters.
In their first tournament game, the Peacocks faced the Twin Cities Storm Aug. 23 and won the match-up 28-5. That game was followed by a meeting with the tournament’s top-seeded team, the Portland Scandals. But the Peacocks were ready for the challenge and sent the Portland team down to a 10-2 defeat. Next the Peacocks got their second chance against the Seattle Chaos, but four Chaos runs in the bottom of the fifth inning allowed the Seattle team to prevail 12-7.
On Saturday morning the Peacocks played an early game against the Phoenix Stallions. Faced with a win-and-move-on or lose-and-go-home situation, the determined Peacocks bested the Phoenix team 21-3. The Pittsburgh bats stayed hot against the San Diego Trojans in a game that ended with a final score of 20-9. A tough test against the Chicago Side Track Assault immediately followed, and in one of the best and most emotional games of the tournament, the Peacocks prevailed 12-8. The ‘Cocks rallied from a 8-4 deficit by scoring eight runs in the final three innings while keeping the solid-hitting Chicago team off the score board.
With a 3-0 record for the day, the Peacocks played the San Diego Shameless at 9pm on the tournament’s main field. The game started slowly for the Peacocks and the Shameless built a 10-2 lead. The Peacocks fought back but the team’s tournament hopes were ended with a 12-8 loss to San Diego. The Peacocks ended series play with an overall record of 5-2 and a sixth place finish overall.
Peacocks manager Ralph M. said, “It was the best showing, by far, for any Pittsburgh team in the 26-year history of the Gay World Series. Pittsburghers can be proud of the way their city and SCSL softball were represented. The team played with enthusiasm and class all the way.
“I am very fortunate to have been able to be a part of this experience,” Ralph M. added. “I thank the players… they are all my friends and the best group of people I could ever hope to manage. Also, a great deal of thanks goes to our sponsors, Tony’s Drugs and Eons Vintage Clothing, and to Donny of Donny’s Place, who has always been supportive of both the Peacocks and all of the SCSL.”
The team roster for the series included Peacocks Ralph M., El B., Andrew P., Don C., Kelly Y., Tony R., Greg A., Paul C., Frank M., Joe O., Craig F., Joe H., Greg C. and scorekeeper Chris F.
Pittsburgh transplant Roy M. served as tournament director for the 2002 series in Portland.