Chicago PSOF Rangers Win
The Roy Hobbs World Series

The Chicago PSOF (Public Safety Officers’ Fund) Rangers led by PSOF President Jack DeHeer won the 2009 Roy Hobbs World Series in Ft. Myers, Florida. The PSOF Rangers won the Masters Division (age 48 and over) at the Roy Hobbs World Series (RHWS). All of the Rangers’ players are members of PSOF and most hail from the Chicago area and are or were involved in public safety (law enforcement or firefighting) work.

The Public Safety Officers’ Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting the families of public safety officers who are killed or seriously injured in the line of duty. DeHeer, a decorated Chicago Police Officer, was permanently disabled in the line of duty and forced to retire from the Chicago Police Department. DeHeer is the Founder and President of PSOF and Tight Security, Inc. of Chicago. To learn more about PSOF and how you can assist in their efforts to aid families in need who have had a loved one killed or seriously injured in the line of duty as a law enforcement officer or firefighter, go to www.PSOF.org.

DeHeer and several of his PSOF colleagues are also avid amateur adult baseball players. Through the PSOF Rangers, DeHeer and his teammates are spreading the word of PSOF and its’ mission. Adult amateur baseball is much more popular than most of us think. 2009 was the 21st year of the RHWS and this past year saw 183 teams from all over the United States and beyond enter the RHWS. Players in the RHWS range in age from 25 to over 70.

Don’t confuse competitive amateur baseball with your local beer league slow-pitch softball league. These amateur baseball players have plenty of fun, but these guys can play. The RHWS consists of hundreds of former college, minor-league, semi-pro, and high school greats. Many of these amateur ballplayers tried out for big league teams and quite a few even played briefly in the majors.

DeHeer led the Rangers with a .700 batting average and 15 stolen bases to go along with 18 RBI in eight games in the RHWS. DeHeer, manager and third baseman for the Rangers, resides in Valparaiso. Randy Kelley was the MVP (Most Valuable Player) for the Rangers in the RHWS, due to his outstanding pitching. Kelley started on the mound the last three games of the RHWS for the Rangers and for the entire series he compiled a 2-0 record with a 2.45 ERA in 22 innings. Shortstop Sean Hoye, a Chicago firefighter, was named co-MVP of the Rangers for his clutch hitting and playing through an injury in the RHWS. Hoye hit .639 with 23 hits, 22 RBI, 7 doubles, and 1 triple in eight games in the RHWS for the Rangers. Matt Babich, an Orland Park auto salesman, was given an Honorable Mention for MVP of the Rangers in the RHWS. Babich pitched for the Rangers in the RHWS.

DeHeer also wanted to acknowledge the loss of one of his former teammates, Tony Scilingo, who recently passed away. Scilingo pitched and played shortstop and second base. Tony was remembered as a great guy and a fierce competitor.

Unbelievably, the Roy Hobbs World Series Championship was not the highlight of Jack DeHeer’s 2009 amateur baseball season. DeHeer, 55, played on the 2009 World Masters Games Gold Medal winning Northern California Buzzards. The Buzzards took the Gold in the age 45 and over division. DeHeer was one of three MVP winners for the Buzzards along with Gary Cotchin and Geoff Paice. However, DeHeer pointed out that every player on the Buzzards’ roster was instrumental in the team’s success. The World Masters Games take place every four years and in 2009 they were in Sydney, Australia with competitors coming from all over the world. The Buzzards were sponsored by EASTON, RAH Environmental, CVC Sports, PSOF, and Hoosier Bats.

For more information on the Chicago PSOF Rangers, the EASTON Northern California Buzzards, the Public Safety Officers’ Fund, amateur baseball and more, go to www.PSOF.org.