Snook Inn Repeats as Marco Division Tourney Champ

Snook Inn completed a magical season when they defeated Stonewalls to claim the Marco Division Tournament Championship. They also won the regular season title this year, making it the second year in a row that they took the crown for both the regular season and post-season tournament. This ends the 2026 season for the Marco Senior Softball League.

Congratulations to all the champions and thanks to all the players, coaches, and sponsors for another great season of senior softball.

MARCO DIVISION

Monday March 30, 2026

Snook Inn 18                                                                         Stonewalls 5

Snook Inn roared to an early lead and piled on extra runs late as it cruised to the Marco Division tournament championship in convincing fashion over Stonewalls.

After limiting Stonewalls to four batters and no runs in its half of the first inning, Snook got busy at the plate with its first five-run rally of the day. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. Gary Menzies (two RBIs) then blistered a single to center field for a 1-0 lead. A Stonewalls error plated another run, setting the table for Jim Willert (three hits and two RBIs). The lanky infielder smacked an opposite-field single to right field, upping Snook’s lead to 3-0. A Stonewalls error on a flyball plated the final two runs of the uprising as Stonewalls could not record an out. Shaken by Snook’s five-run scoring blitz and its own fielding miscues, Stonewalls needed an immediate jolt, and it got it, thanks to rookie Brian Wegener, in its half of the second inning.

The Iowa native tattooed a drive to left field that rolled for a home run, giving Stonewalls its first run of the day and waking up its moribund dugout. Three straight singles loaded the bases for Dan Dumbauld (two RBIs). Playing in his final game after a lengthy career in the Marco Island Senior Softball League, Dumbauld smacked a single to left field, good for two runs as Stonewalls pulled within two at 5-3. The Men in Black added another run on a sacrifice fly. Shortstop Jim Dorey then capped Stonewalls one and only rally of the afternoon when he ripped a single to right center field, tying the game at 5-5.

Up 6-5 as it batted in its half of the third inning, Snook started to take control of the game, led again by Menzies hitting and his alert base running. With a man on second and no outs, Menzies ripped a single for one run and advanced to second on an error by Stonewalls. He then helped manufacture a run when he tagged up on a flyball out and scored when the relay throw bounced off him and away from the Stonewalls infield, allowing him to hustle home from third base for an 8-5 Snook lead. Doug Stang (three hits) then delivered another run with a single, with a second run scoring on the play due to a Stonewalls error, giving Snook a comfortable 10-5 lead. Snook’s other spotlight hitters included sub-John Stuart (two RBIs) who scored courtesy of a fifth inning double and pitcher Neal Newhouse (two RBIs), who plated two more runs in the inning with a single as Snook scored five more times to put the game on ice.

While it was a disappointing and at times frustrating day for Stonewalls on offense and defense, the loss did not taint what was an exhilarating season for the Men in Black. Stonewalls stormed into the post-season tournament thanks to a six-game winning streak to end the regular season and earned a second-place finish with a 14-6 record. And it rebounded from an opening round tournament loss to Joey’s Pizza to win three games in a row (including beating Joey’s in an elimination game rematch) to reach the championship round against Snook. As for Snook, winning the tournament championship again (they also won it in 2024 and 2025) capped a marvelous 2026 campaign. Snook finished 15-5 in the regular season (first place) and coupled with its 3-0 tournament record, won 18 of 23 games played in 2026.

“We had great team support throughout the season,” said Peter Karl, Snook’s manager noting how his team overcame injuries as well as having several players adapt to playing in new positions. “I try to draft a team as a family and work together to achieve that goal. Everyone has each other’s back, and we try make it fun all season.”