- PoliceSoftball.com - Complete Guide to Police Tournament Softball

Name	Steve Margetts
Nickname
Uniform #	25
Team	San Diego Gray
Agency	San Diego PD (RET.)
Assignment	Retired after 36 Years
PS.com Nick	Lips

Sports Background:
High school: Basketball, American Legion: Baseball, College: Football, Navy: Basketball and Football and Fast-pitch softball. SDPD: basketball and fast-pitch softball, then slow-pitch softball. Played eleven years in the Copper Bowl, it was the annual football game between the Sheriff's and the Police Department, (I played weakside linebacker).

Softball History:
Started playing fast pitch softball in the Navy, no slow pitch at that time. Continued playing when I joined the SDPD. I was recruited out of the academy for the basketball and fast pitch softball teams. Stayed with the fast pitch for two years (we had a good pitcher). We lost out pitcher; basketball was my first love (on the first team to best LAPD in the police olympics-1970). It was about this time that slow pitch softball started to become a common sport played on a regular basis at our department. Basketball was still number one, when we would be eliminated, three of us would go help the softball team. Around 1973 or 1974 we lost a couple of our really good players and the basketball team took to the skids. Softball became my number one priority. I was picked up by a couple local teams and I also played for the SDPD team. That was the beginning of a great run of fun and competition that has lasted to this day. The SDPD softball has always enjoyed a high level of success. It was first the SDPD softball team, then the SDPD Red team, then the SDPD Blue team, now the SDPD Gray team.

All the good teams were out of Los Angeles in those days, you had to travel to get to tournaments, there were no complexes, much less 300 foot fenced fields. A lot of the tournaments were played on school or recreation fields, DG was not uncommon. We started to host our own tournament around Sept at the old navy fields so we would not have to travel. We had Police/Fire teams and always filled the 32 team slots. Those were the days when we had a regular semi-tractor trailer beer truck pull up and it was free all day, great tournament. That doesn’t happen these days. Several teams need to be mentioned, they had a great run and some of them are still running: LAPD Blue, LASO Red (two years without a loss), Wongs, South Bay Heat, Torrance, Hawthorne, just to name a few. When we finally broke into Las Vegas, who could forget the Las Vegas guys always trying to load up on short right field fences and never winning. Prior to our participation in the Nevada games, Phoenix was the big dog at the games. We were the first team to beat them and they had to invite us to the Arizona games. For those of you youngsters, the Arizona Softball Whores were the epitome of a down and hardcore softball team. They played hard and were happy to be at every game. Softball doesn’t change, just the players. Enjoy every moment you can, they don't come back.

Past Police Teams:
Played with So Cal Combo in the 1997 World games in Calgary.

Proudest Moment in Police Softball:
(personal) 1994 Nevada Police Games (start of the Gray run) lost second game of double elimination, picked up four guys from the eliminated blue team. We came all the way back through the losers bracket, beating LAPD Gray, Dade County(Florida), six other teams, then double dipping So Cal Combo twice for the Gold. I had a really good tournament and helped us win several very close games. 1999, Nevada games, showed up with a short roster, several of our started could not make it. Eleven starters and three old guys, yes, I was even old (in softball terms) then. During warm-ups one of our starting outfielders fell off a curb (we have no clue where he found a curb to fall off) and sprained an ankle. Two other guys were no shows (drives managers crazy); the three old guys had to play. Played three games that night, all wins, two out between the three of us, great feeling that we could come through when the team needed us. Two days later, GOLD.

Another Proud Moment in Police Softball:
(team) double dipped South Florida in 2002 for Gold, great team effort. Of course the comeback against So Cal Alliance in the Desert Classic in 2003. Down by 20, I think, bottom of sixth, won by one to go on and face DEA Combo for the championship of this open tournament. Beat DEA Combo for the Championship. Great team effort.

Lowest Moment:
It's Softball, NONE

My Game: Younger days, longball and trying to knock down the third baseman when in a slump. I loved getting to bat. Started in the outfield, then third, first, catcher, DH, the progression of someone who wants to stay with his softball buddies and still play.

Future Goals:
I just started playing golf, softball days playing with Gray are over, I am still on a senior team. I am currently on the 90's in golf, future plans is to get to the 80's.

My Motto:
Play as long as it's fun and enjoy the ride.