- PoliceSoftball.com - Complete Guide to Police Tournament Softball

Name	Tim Grundmann
Nickname	The Godfather
Uniform #	21
Team	Pinellas Softball Club, Metro Red
Agency	Pinellas County SO
Assignment	Sgt in Pretrial Services
PS.com Nick	The Godfather

Ps.Com Screen Name and/or Nickname:
“The Godfather” This one has seemed to stick pretty well. It started about the time the movie “Old School” came out so I don’t know if they are comparing me to Don Vito Corleone (I hope) or Mitch Martin (a nice combination would be acceptable). Guys on the Pinellas Team started calling me that because I have become a fixture at the Leadership role. I must confess, there are actually 3 or 4 of us (Founding Fathers) that run the team. I’m “it” on paper. I try to take care of my people and friends. I’ll go to war with them and even for them. I don’t like it when someone says something negative about my guys because I have taken great pride in establishing a respected team on and off the field. “Off Field” comes first in my book. Softball is a game, an outlet, a hobby.

I have had other nicknames like “All World” which started when I made a smart a$$ comment in response to someone bragging about being “All-State”. Go figure- I made a smart a$$ comment?

Sports Background:
Football and Wrestling in High School, Baseball throughout younger days, Softball since 18 yoa.

Softball History:
I actually started playing softball at the request of my future Brothers in Laws (girlfriend/future wife had/has 3 older brothers). Still play with them occasionally in leagues. I started at PCSO when I was 20 and got a team together to play in a league. I played on the PCSO “Police Olympic” Team in 1987 and ever since. About 12 years (or so) ago, I took over the managerial spot for what has become “The Pinellas Softball Club”. You must be a PCSO Deputy to play for us and we have become a SOLID Team.

Past Police Teams:
Jacksonville Police Softball Club, Florida Lawmen (different from South Florida Lawmen), and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office- St. Petersburg Police and PCSO used to combine and play the Jax Tourney and others under the name “Team Pinellas”.

Proudest Moment in Police Softball:
After playing in the Florida “Police Olympics” (now known as the Florida Police and Fire Games) for 19 years, my Pinellas team finally won the Gold Medal in 2005. We had won the Silver medal several times before and several Bronze medals as well. To see a group of your best friends win a tournament that has meant so much, for so long, and to be the “Leader” to boot, meant a tremendous amount to me. I have been a part of at least 6 National Championship Teams (LEO and non-LEO) and won numerous Florida State Championships (Non-LEO). None meant as much as THAT Gold Medal.
A close second was in 1998, my first LEO circuit Tourney (outside of FL). Dennis Leonard, “612”, invited me to play with the Florida Lawmen in Dayton. (They were desperate, I guess.) He and I alternated on the mound and it proved to being a sweet combination. We won Dayton and I still wear that ring proudly. It spoiled me because being my first Tourney and winning the ring, every other victory has seemed just ho-hum. I made a truly great friend that weekend in D.

Lowest Moment:
The Pinellas/Jacksonville “split” this year. This was an extremely tough decision but it was based on my getting older and just wanting to play with closer friends. I don’t even want to imply that Jax isn’t a group of good friends- They are GREAT friends, but over the past 15 years or so, I have developed a closer friendship to the Miami Boyz. I have been a part of championship teams and that’s a Great feeling, but I am getting older, and I have different priorities. It was even harder when they won Sterling Heights this year without us, but they are a great bunch and it didn’t surprise me at all. I am honestly happy for them. In my heart, I will always be proud to say that I played for Jax.

My Game:
Being an older pitcher, “Chuck and Duck” is a good way to play this game now. I really try to remember each batter, what pitches they hit well, what they didn’t, and mix it up. I want you to be off balance and hit a bad pitch. I am comfortable that I can lay it in there at any time, so 3-0 doesn’t bother me at all. I try to stay positive and friendly. I try to keep smiling above all else because I really don’t want you to dislike me enough to try and drill me.

Offensively, I have pretty much given up on trying to put the ball on the other side of the fence. Unlike 5 years ago when 3 or 4 dingers a game were not uncommon, I am getting older and craftier. I learned that I can place the ball and, sometimes, carry an .750 average. I am old now and only weigh 190lbs, so I had to do something different.

My game also includes a good cigar before the day’s games begin. Keep your Cheroots and give me a quality cigar- I’ll be your friend for life!

Future Goals:
I want to stay healthy (it has been and is still an issue that we won’t get into), stay competitive, and keep making friends in Law Enforcement around the country. This may sound mushy: (so shut up right now- C$, Morte, Kilsmoke, Andy, Dennis, JB, Del, etc..) but lately I have enjoyed the “in between games” more than the games themselves. I have met some of the nicest, most genuine, people at these tournaments over the past 10 years. Makes the game secondary in my book. I have had some issues that really put things in perspective. Eventually we all run across this feeling, some sooner than others. TRUST ME when I say this- hug your kids, love your wife AND your girlfriend (J) and don’t be afraid to hug and love the friends you make along the way. Leave a legacy behind and hopefully it will be a good one.

The game will take care of itself. What Del, JB and Leo have started is HUGE. It seems to be an almost guarantee that it will continue. When they get tired of running the web site, they can pass it on. There will always be up and coming youngsters who take over when called upon. We did it. Have faith. I predict this will only get better.

My Motto:
“Ring the bell you pansies!” from Old School, my boy Blue preparing to KY wrestle!! This says it all.

I still have a passion for the game. No matter how old I get, I want to be able to jump into the game with both feet and give it my all. If it kills me- What a better way to go than doing something you love? Just promise me you won’t let any of the Pinellas boyz sing “Dust in the Wind” at my funeral. Ya’ll are invited!