Inspiring Warriors to Play Top Florida Team

Nov. 1, 2017

Press Release
For Immediate Release
CONTACTS:
David Van Sleet / louisvillesluggerwarriors@gmail.com / 802-777-7232
SSUSA: Terry Hennessy / terryh@seniorsoftball.com / 916-326-5303

Inspiring Warriors to Play Top Florida Team

NAPLES, FL. – A softball team made up of soldiers who lost limbs and suffered serious injuries in combat will compete against one of the top senior teams in the country at North Collier Regional Park Softball Complex located in Naples, FL here on Friday, Nov. 10, at 7 pm in honor of Veterans Day.

The Louisville Slugger Warriors are a highly decorated national slow pitch softball tournament team featuring US Military Veterans and Active Duty Personnel who have overcome serious wounds in combat to play at a very high level of competition.

The Louisville Slugger Warriors will be playing Team Florida, one of the top 60-year-old softball teams in the country, during the Senior Softball USA (SSUSA) Winter Nationals in Naples and Ft. Myers.  The Warriors will be coached by former MLB player and now analyst/broadcaster John Kruk.

“A number of these inspiring players have lost limbs,” said Terry Hennessy CEO of SSUSA. “However, watching them run, field, throw and hit those watching soon forget they suffered serious wounds and are simply amazed at their athleticism.”

Hennessy said SSUSA has been proud to partner with David Van Sleet and his teams for a number of years.

The idea for the Louisville Slugger Warriors began with Van Sleet’s idea of combining his passion for veterans, prosthetics, and softball. That idea came to fruition with the birth of the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team (WWAST).

Van Sleet, a US Army Veteran who served during the Vietnam War Era, worked for the Department of Veteran Affairs in the field of prosthetics for over 30 years, served as General Manager, Head Coach, and CEO of WWAST from March 2011 to February 2016, before retiring and becoming the General Manager of the current Louisville Slugger Warriors, following major media attention and games throughout the nation.

Since being adopted by Louisville Slugger, the Warriors’ talent level has been “elevated to the next level,” Van Sleet said. The Warriors are now a national D level slow pitch tournament team, testing their athleticism against teams of able-bodied players.

“This high profile, nationally sponsored competitive tournament team consists of several military personnel that have been playing softball for close to six years post-injury, and who desire to test themselves at the next level,” said Van Sleet. “Many of these premiere players on the Louisville Slugger Warriors team are testing the limits of prosthetic advancement that is available to extremely active amputees.”