In August of 2008,
The Rays finished a disappointing 10th in the nation! Plagued by injuries and missing 2 key starters seemed to suck the
life out of the team. We did have three players selected to the All Tournament team:
Jeremy Day - Best Centerfielder
(2nd year in a row!)
Dave Christiani - Best Catcher (3rd year in a row!)
Shelton Mobley - Sportsmanship Award (still tried to play and help the team after
suffering a broken thumb, cast and trip to the hospital!)
In July of 2008, the Rays were honored by
a visit from the crew at DeMarini (of Wilson Sports) to film a segment of their show "The Ultimate Softball Show"
and present the team with various bats for our upcoming National tournament including the mighty bat called "The
Juice". We were also treated to long ball hits from their traveling long ball promoters, Larry and Ray! They even tried
hitting and fielding from a wheelchair! See our group shot to the right. Click on the DeMarini logo to the right to see the
segment they did at our practice here in Tampa. (available in mid-August)
In June of 2008, the Rays went
to the RIC Cubs tournament in Chicago and played "the big boys". We won one awesome game against the #4 ranked Cubs
and notched our first-ever win against the #1 ranked Nebraska Barons. You can see both of these SUNDAY wins at:
http://xable.com/sports/wheelchairsoftball/chicagotournament2008/main .
In May of 2008,
the Rays hosted the 4th annual "Spring Training in Florida" Tournament on their NEW field at Rowlett Park in Tampa
with the Nebraska Barons and the Chicago Cubs. The City of Tampa provided us with the first adult wheelchair softball field
in the state of Florida! Mayor Pam Iorio threw out the first pitch after dedicating the field!
The following links to the right (Channel 10, TBO.com)
go to different articles about the team from the weekend and the xAble link allows you to WATCH selected games and the Mayor's
presentation!
In August of 2007,
the Devil Rays placed 1st in Division II and 7th in the NATION at the National Wheelchair Softball Tournament
in St. Paul, Minnesota! This was their best finish ever!
We also had several of our players selected to the ALL Tournament Team (voted on
by all of the participating teams)
Dennis Mason - Pitcher
(pitched every inning of 9 games but one!)
Doyle Mann - 2nd Base
(hit the "walk off" single to win championship!)
Shelton Mobley - Leftfielder
Paul Schulte - Left Centerftfielder and
MVP of Division II (Rookie!)
Jeremy Day - Right Centerfielder
(Rookie!)
Dave
Christiani - Catcher (2nd year in a row!)
In
May of 2007, the Devil Rays hosted the first ever wheelchair softball
tournament at Disney's Wide World of Sports© complex in Orlando, Florida. This was the 3rd annual "Spring
Training" tournament for the Rays. The Nebraska Barons, United Spinal Yankees, RIC Cubs, Midwest Flyers from Chicago,
the Center Coast Confluence from St. Louis and the Devil Rays helped make this inaugural event a success.
In August of 2006, the Devil Rays placed 2nd in Division II and 9th
in the NATION at the National Wheelchair Softball Tournament in Chicago, Illinois! This was their best finish ever! Player
highlights include: Ron Richardson batting an impressive .724. Dennis Mason pitched all 8 COMPLETE games! Shelton Mobley scored
9 runs and drove in an additional 16! Dave Christiani was voted onto the All Tournament Team as the Best Quad in Division
II.
In July of 2006, the Devil Rays placed 2nd at the Mid Atlantic Wheelchair Softball Championship
in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore Orioles, Brookhaven Ducks and the Columbus Pioneers also participated.
In May of 2006, the Devil
Rays placed 2nd and hosted the second annual "Spring Training in Florida” tournament. It
was played at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church on Memorial Ave. in Tampa, Florida. The Nebraska Barons (ranked
#2 in the country) and the Chicago White Sox participated.
In September of 2005, the Devil Rays placed 4th in a tournament at Shea Stadium in New
York, in which only Major League affiliated teams were invited. First baseman Ron Richardson led the team in hitting with
a .615 batting average and 6 RBIs. Close behind were pitcher Dennis Mason with 7 RBIs and outfielder Shelton Mobley with
4 RBIs each batting .600!
In August of 2005, the Devil Rays second year, they placed 12th overall and
5th place in Division II at the National Wheelchair Softball Tournament in Columbus, Ohio. Pitcher Dennis Mason
and first baseman Ron Richardson hit the team’s first-ever homeruns! Mason batted .545 with 5 RBI
& 5 runs scored while outfielder Jose Rodriguez posted the team’s highest batting average at .647 while driving
in two and scoring three runs in the tournament. Outfielder Shelton Mobley batted an impressive .588 with
4 RBI and a run scored. Team Captain and shortstop Doyle Mann was selected to the All-Tournament Team in Division II. In
May of 2005, the Devil Rays hosted the first Florida Wheelchair Softball Tournament. It was called “Spring
Training in Florida.” It was played at Hit Masters on Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa, Florida. The
Columbus Pioneers and the Chicago Cubs (ranked #1 in the country) participated. In August of 2004, the Devil Rays first year, they shocked the wheelchair softball community
by taking 10th place overall and 3rd place in Division II at the National Wheelchair Softball Tournament
in Omaha, Nebraska. This team was comprised mostly of novice first-time players! Tracy Wilkerson was voted to the All-Tournament
Team by representatives of all other participating teams as the best “second baseman”, and this was her first
year! In March of 2004, the Devil Rays (original name) formed a team and began practice!
