Traverse City Record-Eagle

Grand Traverse County

September 28, 2007

TC man aims to form men's baseball team

Squad could play in Arizona championship

BY JEFF PEEK

TRAVERSE CITY -- Chris Cooke is looking for "Boys of Summer" to play in amateur baseball's Fall Classic.

Cooke, a 52-year-old Detroit native who now lives in Traverse City, is assembling a team to participate in the 35-and-over division of the 20th annual Men's Senior Baseball League/Men's Adult Baseball League World Series Oct. 29-Nov. 3 in Phoenix.

"It's baseball nirvana," Cooke said of the tournament, which -- with more than 300 teams -- is the largest amateur baseball event in the world. "It's just an incredible experience."

Cooke, who played for Albion College in the mid-1970s, was a senior baseball regular in Grand Rapids for 18 years before he and three teammates decided to start a team of their own this season.

They have eight of 12 roster spots filled for the World Series and are looking for prospective players to fill out the squad.

"We're guaranteed at least six nine-inning games," said Cooke, who moved to Traverse City six years ago. "So we'll be playing a lot of baseball."

The MSBL/MABL World Series is divided into age divisions of 18+, 25+, 35+, 45+, 50+, 55+, 60+ and 65+. There are both wood bat and aluminum/composite bat divisions. Cooke's 35+ team will play in the non-wood class.

Games are held at Major League Baseball spring training sites throughout the Phoenix area.

Cooke, who pitches, catches and plays outfield, said his "ultimate goal" is to form a team of Traverse City-area players that will barnstorm throughout the state next summer before taking part in the World Series in 2008.

"I'd also love to see a state tournament played in Traverse City someday," Cooke said, suggesting Wuerfel Park -- home of the Frontier League's Traverse City Beach Bums -- as a possible site. "Right now I'm just trying to see how much interest there is."

For more information call Cooke at (231) 342-3170.

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