Mavericks earn top spot

The SeaCrest Mavericks are No. 1.

That’s the lofty status achieved by the men’s 50 Major-Plus Senior softball team, which was created by Huntington Beach resident Ken Lipinski and includes Surf City resident, Sam Ferri.

During the 2008 season, the Mavericks posted an overall record of 50-6, but was 50-3 in senior-only tournament competition. The squad participated in four national tournament events this year in Tulsa, Okla., Lincoln. Neb., Las Vegas and Phoenix, and won all four titles. The Mavericks went 20-2 in national tournament play, the two losses coming in partial round-robin seeding play. In national play, they defeated teams from Northern California, Chicago, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Florida, Arizona, Michigan and Utah.

Overall, the Mavericks played 14 tournaments.

As creator of the Mavericks, Lipinski serves as owner, major team sponsor, third base coach and co-manager of the team, along with Mike Trusty of Riverside.

“Without a doubt, this is the best team I’ve ever had,” Lipinski said. “This team pulled together all year and played as one. I fully believe that this team is my extended family. It was just a great season.”

The sport of senior softball is open to players turning 50 years old. Age brackets go from 50 to more than 80 years of age.

“Yes, there really are competitive 80-year-old softball players on the Senior Softball circuit,” Lipinski said.

The Mavericks’ roster has 16 full-time players, 13 of whom live in Southern California. The other three hail from Northern California, Las Vegas and Minnesota.

Ferri, a second baseman, batted .746 for the season. As a team, the Mavericks were a blistering .753 at the plate and clubbed 426 home runs.

The new season begins for the Mavericks Jan. 10-11 in Menifee.