SANTA CRUZ COMBO
2009 Rank: 24
The management of team Santa Cruz has been working hard all winter to expand the team’s roster for the first time in years. The reason for this is that unlike most teams on the police circuit, Santa Cruz is basically a one department team. In fact all but 3 members of the current roster work for the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Department. Even the non sheriff department members of the team, are from other agencies in the Santa Cruz area.

Towards the end of 2009 season, Santa Cruz had to pull out of several tourneys due to staff shortages, furlough coverage issues and several on the job injuries to key members of the team. Santa Cruz would like to extend apologies to both Sacramento Probation and the Police Softball World Series for their withdrawals from these tourneys. Please know all options were explored to attend these tourneys but for various reasons it just was not possible. In fact Santa Cruz felt so bad about these withdrawals; they donated their entry fees to the tourney directors to show their continued support of police softball.

In an attempt to avoid these problems in 2010, Santa Cruz has added 6 new players to its roster giving them 18 team members. Sticking with the home grown talent theme, all of these new players are from the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Department or other agencies in the Santa Cruz area. Several of the players have college baseball and civilian tournament experience. Santa Cruz is preparing itself for 2010 with regular team workouts which started in January. With an equal mix of young talent and veteran leadership, and as always, their never say die attitude, Santa Cruz is determined in 2010 to eliminate the term “small market” from when their team is mentioned. A warning to some of the giants on the circuit in 2010, do not take Santa Cruz lightly, they will always give you all they got and seemed primed with new young talent and a large roster pool to pull from. Santa Cruz plans on playing in the following tourney’s in 2010: Sunnyvale, State Razed, Fremont Baconball, Lincoln, Star 6, Tahoe, Sac Probation, Palm Springs and the World Series. 2010 Theme Song: “How ya like me now” by Kool Mo Dee

WEST COAST AFTERSHOCK
2009 Rank: 4
The Aftershock were the busiest team in 2009 as they played in 11 tournaments. In those 11, the Shock won 2 and placed in the top 5 in 4 of them enroute to a 4th place finish in the West. Led by 2009 Sportsman of the year Jim Lemmon, the Aftershock had a great year but they expect even more in 2010 due to off-season additions.

Playing their inaugural season with the Aftershock after playing on HardCor will be Ryan Saucedo, Chris Enriquez, Jake Martinez, Anthony Bertoluzzi and Jason Decanio. If those additions arent enough to bolster an already strong team, add Quintin Lewis from Folsom Sac and late 2009 pick up Chris Moten from the Alliance to the 2010 mix and this team is ready to compete with any team in police softball. All of these pick ups have played in big games and know what it takes for a team to succeed.

The last three years has had a top 3 in the west of Quake, HardCor and Alliance. With these moves and moves by other teams, we see that big three being broken up. 2010 Theme Song:  “Top of the World” by Van Halen

SACRAMENTO RAZORBACKS
2009 Rank: 14T
According to a team spokesperson 2010 finds the Razorbacks re-loading from mostly within the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department for the upcoming season.  The following statement was made during a team press conference. “There will be some new faces and some old faces trying to re-build a once powerful team from within.  We have watched players come and go, jumping ship from one team to another to try and fulfill a "win now" philosophy.  For all of those ship jumpers and grass is greener guys, (the spokesperson refused to name names, stating only “they know who they are”) not one of them has even won a tournament let alone the World Series since leaving the R-Backs.  Maybe all of us think we're actually better than we really are...hmmmm???  The Razorbacks have some fresh faces that will take time to learn the game that we all love.  We will be better in 2010 then 2009 but there will be very little slaying of GIANTS from this young and inexperienced team.” They will boast a new look though....
 
THINGS TO LOOK FOR::
The Tedford Bros (Powder & baby powder) are getting more consistent with their play both offensively and defensively.

Expect a break-out year for Nate Jennings.

Keegan's 2nd year played a consistent 3rd base and an off-season hitting instruction will help

Kenny "G" got a small taste last year of the PS seen and is back for more..lot’s of potential...

D-Mac- A near death on the job injury almost 8 years ago now (medically retired)...and finally able to play sports again...lots of potential...very competitive.

"Rizzle" Sanders OBP was 111 points higher than his B.A....fine tuning his hitting skills will make him a great lead-off hitter

Pfau & Flores & Coauette need some time in the cages..if that happens...the Razorbacks could be better than expected..

J-Mac & "Chili" and Sugar Shane...these 3 could make the biggest impact on the squad but all need to commit to 4 tourneys a year.

THE VETS: Buccer, Pometta, Lito, Saundy & BT & Jumbo...consistent R-Backs
Hoda:  a fast start last year but faded toward the end of the season...he'll be back and better..

The unknown:
Sean Robinson (Shasta SD) only 50 AB's in 09...injury and work kept him away in the end..

Sweet Lou & Co.(Yolo SD) will some of YO-SAC make any impact...we'll see
2010 theme song: “Like a Rock” by Bob Segar