Article Contributed on: 8/4/2008 1:07:33 AM
Johnny's New York Pizza in Lakewood added a new ingredient - not to their pizzas but rather to their lineup for the second show down with the Rollin' Rockies in as many years. To be more competitive in this annual benefit wheelchair softball game, Johnny's recruited some players from Colorado Christian University men's baseball team who left off their cleats and played the game in wheelchairs alongside cooks and cashiers from the pizza parlor.
"We're stacking our team this year," says
Siobhan Keiley. Keiley, along with her husband
John are the proud owners of Johnny's New York Pizza and Pasta and are historically the Rollin' Rockies biggest supporters. The connection with CCU was a simple one as key employee Jessica Richie's father Darren not only works for the Lakewood-based college, he's the director of athletics.
It took a few innings to learn the ins and outs of how to play the game sitting down but the combined team found a groove in the fifth inning putting up three runs against the more-wheelchair experienced Rollin' Rockies.
Richie [Darren], a 6-foot, 3 inch lefty kept the Rollin' Rockies right fielders busy sending line drives to the outfield while at bat and making several key outs playing first base in the field. Richie's talent playing the game prompted Rollin Rockies manager
Larry Smith to ask if he was somehow eligible to play in the wheelchair league. "We're always recruiting." Smith added.
"Scoring three runs against us is a feat," says Rollin' Rockies veteran pitcher
Sonny de Guzman as he went on to talk about how his wheelchair team generally shuts out able-bodied athletes who are new at playing competitive sports in wheelchairs. "Team Johnny's get's better each year and it's always a great time."
While the scoreboard wasn't really that close, it was an excellent opportunity for excitement and camaraderie while helping Colorado's only wheelchair softball team prepare for their national tournament which starts on Thursday in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The Keiley's hosted an after-game party at their restaurant for all the players and spectators who attended the event and provided a large donation that will help the team travel to nationals. Talk of a re-match game is already in the works and expect CCU / RR game soon.
The Rollin' Rockies are currently ranked 10th in the nation and are one of over four-dozen teams which make up the National Wheelchair Softball Association (NWSA). Track the Rollin' Rockies progress at the national tournament August 7, 8 and 9th by visiting NWSA's website at www.wheelchairsoftball.org.