{"id":5471,"date":"2024-12-31T18:32:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-31T18:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/?p=5471"},"modified":"2025-02-06T18:50:49","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T18:50:49","slug":"veterans-day-classic-softball-tournament-a-smash-hit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/recreation\/sports\/veterans-day-classic-softball-tournament-a-smash-hit\/","title":{"rendered":"Veterans Day Classic Softball Tournament \u2013 A Smash Hit!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The third annual Veterans Day Classic Softball Tournament was a smash hit.&nbsp; Fifty-five resident veterans took to the baseline pathways for opening ceremonies led by Steve Petty, captain, US Army, retired and members of the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard parading the colors onto the infield for the playing of the National Anthem and tossing of the ceremonial first pitch by Charles Calhoun, president of the Veterans Club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"763\" height=\"468\" data-id=\"5262\" src=\"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Colors-Honor-Guard-VCST-Nov2024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5262\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Colors-Honor-Guard-VCST-Nov2024.jpg 763w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Colors-Honor-Guard-VCST-Nov2024-300x184.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Colors-Honor-Guard-VCST-Nov2024-750x460.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 763px) 100vw, 763px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"606\" data-id=\"5274\" src=\"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1000006167-1024x606.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5274\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1000006167-1024x606.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1000006167-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1000006167-768x454.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1000006167-750x444.jpg 750w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1000006167.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A solemn moment was taken for a Quilts of Valor presentation. Dating back to 2003, the Quilts of Valor Foundation (a grassroots group of quilters from across the United States of America) has awarded well over 380,000 Quilts of Valor to war-touched service members and veterans worldwide.&nbsp; Like snowflakes, no two quilts are alike \u2013 such were the caring hands of Whitney Rearick as she dedicated every stitch to crafting these hand-sewn masterpieces, conveying sincere appreciation and thanks for service, sacrifice, and valor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On Nov. 9, 2024, Whitney, herself a veteran, presented Quilts of Valor honors to four resident veterans: US Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeff Thomas 1965-1968 Vietnam Vet, US Marine Sergeant Wayne Kiser Vietnam Vet 1972-1976 and Afghanistan War Vet 2009-2012, US Army Specialist Jimmy Huff 1954-1956 Cold War Vet, and US Air Force Captain (Retired) Pete Feliciano 1974-2001 Vietnam Era and Gulf War Era Veteran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_2164-1-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5269\" style=\"width:507px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_2164-1-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_2164-1-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_2164-1-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_2164-1-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_2164-1-150x200.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_2164-1-750x1000.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_2164-1-1140x1520.jpeg 1140w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_2164-1.jpeg 1650w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Many thanks to our sponsors, Recreation Center staff, grounds people, maintenance teams, and Colen Built staff for all their hard work and leadership.\u00a0 Additional thanks to our behind-the-scenes personnel, such as Softball Club member volunteers, groundskeeping volunteers, press box staff, and critical care nursing volunteers, who ensured that the tournament infrastructure was geared for success. High five to our friends from Ashford for gracing the event with a Veterans Day 30 golf cart parade salute motorcade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"895\" data-id=\"5270\" src=\"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Jimmy-Russo-VCST-Nov2024-1-1024x895.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Jimmy-Russo-VCST-Nov2024-1-1024x895.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Jimmy-Russo-VCST-Nov2024-1-300x262.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Jimmy-Russo-VCST-Nov2024-1-768x671.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Jimmy-Russo-VCST-Nov2024-1-1536x1343.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Jimmy-Russo-VCST-Nov2024-1-2048x1790.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Jimmy-Russo-VCST-Nov2024-1-229x200.jpg 229w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Jimmy-Russo-VCST-Nov2024-1-750x656.jpg 750w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Jimmy-Russo-VCST-Nov2024-1-1140x996.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"924\" data-id=\"5272\" src=\"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/MVP-Dave-Rearick-VCST-Nov2024-1-1024x924.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5272\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/MVP-Dave-Rearick-VCST-Nov2024-1-1024x924.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/MVP-Dave-Rearick-VCST-Nov2024-1-300x271.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/MVP-Dave-Rearick-VCST-Nov2024-1-768x693.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/MVP-Dave-Rearick-VCST-Nov2024-1-1536x1386.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/MVP-Dave-Rearick-VCST-Nov2024-1-2048x1848.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/MVP-Dave-Rearick-VCST-Nov2024-1-222x200.jpg 222w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/MVP-Dave-Rearick-VCST-Nov2024-1-750x677.jpg 750w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/MVP-Dave-Rearick-VCST-Nov2024-1-1140x1029.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2250\" height=\"1379\" data-id=\"5273\" src=\"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sam-Mestre-VCST-Nov2024-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sam-Mestre-VCST-Nov2024-1.jpg 2250w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sam-Mestre-VCST-Nov2024-1-300x184.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sam-Mestre-VCST-Nov2024-1-1024x628.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sam-Mestre-VCST-Nov2024-1-768x471.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sam-Mestre-VCST-Nov2024-1-1536x941.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sam-Mestre-VCST-Nov2024-1-2048x1255.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sam-Mestre-VCST-Nov2024-1-750x460.jpg 750w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sam-Mestre-VCST-Nov2024-1-1140x699.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2250px) 100vw, 2250px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Over 200 spectators joined us to cheer on their favorite military branch of service, watch a cheer squad presentation by the Poms Cheer &amp; Dance Squad, enjoy food truck delicacies, cooled off eating some Mr. B\u2019s Big Scoop Ice Cream, admire home run derby participants Chuck King win the most homers hit award, and Dave Emmons win the longest home run hit, while others shot selfies in the battle-tested vintage \u201cWartime Jeep by Mike Soltis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After seven innings of tireless softball play, Game one ended with the Air Force (USAF) victorious over the Army. Now came the \u201cnail-biting\u201d game two, whereby the Navy would succumb to the Warriors\u2019 tenacity to rally and win the match. Now, the table was set for the Warriors to challenge the incumbent USAF team in a knock-out match for the championship.&nbsp;Downed to their last out in the bottom of the seventh inning, USAF would win the championship game as Rob Iraci would cross the plate, scoring the winning run resulting from a walk-off clutch hit by Dave Rearick.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"774\" src=\"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Ken-Colen-with-VCST-Champs-Nov2024-1-1024x774.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5271\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Ken-Colen-with-VCST-Champs-Nov2024-1-1024x774.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Ken-Colen-with-VCST-Champs-Nov2024-1-300x227.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Ken-Colen-with-VCST-Champs-Nov2024-1-768x581.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Ken-Colen-with-VCST-Champs-Nov2024-1-1536x1161.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Ken-Colen-with-VCST-Champs-Nov2024-1-2048x1548.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Ken-Colen-with-VCST-Champs-Nov2024-1-265x200.jpg 265w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Ken-Colen-with-VCST-Champs-Nov2024-1-750x567.jpg 750w, https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Ken-Colen-with-VCST-Champs-Nov2024-1-1140x862.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Culminating this Veterans Day celebration was a special visit from the Honorable Mr. Kenneth Colen, who presented the coveted captain\u2019s championship trophy to team Air Force for their third consecutive tournament victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Author:  Pete Feliciano<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Photo Credit: Jerry Weage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p class=\"card-text\">The third annual Veterans Day Classic Softball Tournament was a smash hit.\u00a0 Fifty-five resident veterans took to the baseline pathways for opening ceremonies led by Steve Petty, captain, US Army, retired and members of the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard parading the colors onto the infield for the playing of the National Anthem and tossing of the ceremonial first pitch by Charles Calhoun, president of the Veterans Club. [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"m-0\"><a class=\"btn btn-outline-secondary btn-read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/recreation\/sports\/veterans-day-classic-softball-tournament-a-smash-hit\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":5271,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,66,102],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[114],"class_list":["post-5471","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-recreation","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Veterans Day Classic Softball Tournament \u2013 A Smash Hit! - On Top of the World News | Ocala, FL<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/recreation\/sports\/veterans-day-classic-softball-tournament-a-smash-hit\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Veterans Day Classic Softball Tournament \u2013 A Smash Hit! - On Top of the World News | Ocala, FL\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The third annual Veterans Day Classic Softball Tournament was a smash hit.\u00a0 Fifty-five resident veterans took to the baseline pathways for opening ceremonies led by Steve Petty, captain, US Army, retired and members of the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard parading the colors onto the infield for the playing of the National Anthem and tossing of the ceremonial first pitch by Charles Calhoun, president of the Veterans Club. [...]Read More\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/recreation\/sports\/veterans-day-classic-softball-tournament-a-smash-hit\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"On Top of the World News | Ocala, FL\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ontopoftheworldflorida\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-12-31T18:32:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-02-06T18:50:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\/redesign-2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Ken-Colen-with-VCST-Champs-Nov2024-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1663\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Pete Feliciano\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Pete Feliciano\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\\\/redesign-2025\\\/recreation\\\/sports\\\/veterans-day-classic-softball-tournament-a-smash-hit\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\\\/redesign-2025\\\/recreation\\\/sports\\\/veterans-day-classic-softball-tournament-a-smash-hit\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Pete Feliciano\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\\\/redesign-2025\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a3f1679da7a032873784b7050aba3ea1\"},\"headline\":\"Veterans Day Classic Softball Tournament \u2013 A Smash Hit!\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-31T18:32:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-02-06T18:50:49+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\\\/redesign-2025\\\/recreation\\\/sports\\\/veterans-day-classic-softball-tournament-a-smash-hit\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":513,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\\\/redesign-2025\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\\\/redesign-2025\\\/recreation\\\/sports\\\/veterans-day-classic-softball-tournament-a-smash-hit\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\\\/redesign-2025\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Ken-Colen-with-VCST-Champs-Nov2024-1.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Featured\",\"Recreation\",\"Sports\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\\\/redesign-2025\\\/recreation\\\/sports\\\/veterans-day-classic-softball-tournament-a-smash-hit\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ontopoftheworldnews.com\\\/redesign-2025\\\/recreation\\\/sports\\\/veterans-day-classic-softball-tournament-a-smash-hit\\\/\",\"name\":\"Veterans Day Classic Softball Tournament \u2013 A Smash Hit! 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