Softball champions

Louisville Slugger Team TPS is on top of the softball world after taking the Manufacturer’s Cup title in the Long Haul Bombers Stadium Power Tour.

Team TPS’s JD Genter and Tim Cocco both had great nights in San Francisco’s AT&T Park on Tuesday to give Team TPS the manufacturer’s championship.  The left-handed Cocco, a rookie on the tour, used his Louisville Slugger TPS Z-1000 to hit several balls completely out of the park and into McCovey Cove.
“I felt great and had complete confidence in my bat,” Cocco said.  “The ball was flying.  I hit a couple into the bay. That was pretty cool.”

The Long Haul Bombers are a collection of the world’s greatest softball home run hitters.  They stage a one-of-a-kind home run derby with players representing softball’s top bat manufacturers, like Louisville Slugger TPS.  Each bat maker is asked to put two players into the competition, a 13-week tour of Major League Baseball® stadiums where the Long Haul Bombers swing for the fences. 

“People are amazed to see these guys hit softballs that far, into upper decks and actually out of Major League Baseball stadiums,” said Louisville Slugger TPS Manager of Slow-pitch Relations Hank Bassett.  The Manufacturer’s Cup victory is extra special for Team TPS because veteran Genter sprained his wrist mid-season and had to sit out two events. 

TPS Staff Player Brett McCollum stepped in for Genter and had two big nights to keep Team TPS in contention.
“Brett was awesome and kept us in the running,” Genter said.  “My wrist is feeling better now.  I used some martial arts training and my TPS bats to win it all for Louisville Slugger.” Now it’s on to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on September 18 where Genter and Cocco will slug it out with four others for the individual championship.
“Tim and I are looking forward to the individual finals in L.A.,” Genter said, “but right now we are savoring the team victory and are really happy to win it for Louisville Slugger TPS which, we proved, has great bat technology.”

Fans can follow the Long Haul Bombers on the National TV Show “Softball 360.”  For station and cable network listings and airtimes, go to www.softball360.com