By Lauren Stunkard
Hammerheads have been spotted in Rye… Not in the Long Island Sound, but on the softball field as Rye Recreation’s Slowpitch Softball National League Champions.
The summer season has come to an end, and the Hammerheads emerged victorious. The softball season ran from mid-April through mid-August, run by Rye Recreation’s dynamic duo, Joe Archino and Kevin Thompson. The National League has six teams, and the American League has five teams.
The Hammerheads were founded in 1983 by Jim Herbster and some of his classmates, with a majority of the roster filled by Rye High School graduates from the early 1970s. The team was named for Jim’s Construction business. Jim is still an active member of the team and is the proud coach as he is now joined by the next generation of ball players who are ready to take the field. Jim’s son, John Herbster, and Jim’s nephews, Andrew Wood and Hank Anderson, are now team members. They are just the start of the many family trees on the Hammerheads. There are a handful of other Father/Son duos on the team alongside Jim, including Andy and Tillman Ball, James and James Jr. Kennedy, and Mark and Ryan Surhoff. There are also other Uncle/Nephew combos made up of Terence Dempsey, whose brother Kevin was an original Hammerhead, who is now joined on the team with nephews Jeff Dempsey, Andrew Dempsey, and Jenner Stunkard.
Continuing long-time traditions, like everyone on the team wearing the number “20” on their uniform and ensuring they are never the first team to leave the post-game gathering, the roster is made up of more than just a group of guys who enjoy spending their weeknights playing softball after work. They have become a group of very close friends who always have the bench roaring with laughter and get together throughout the year.
The team’s pitcher, Vinny Marino, just celebrated his 70th birthday after a playoff game with the team, making him one of the oldest Hammerheads still out on the field, and throwing many strikes from the mound while he’s at it.
The Hammerheads secured the victory early and swiftly, winning the first two games (best of three) in both rounds of playoffs, first against Second Chance, and then in the finals for their matchup against the Coyotes. Many great hits and stellar catches were made this season, especially in the playoffs. The Hammerhead’s offense was powered by multiple home runs by Hank Anderson, Jenner Stunkard, Tillman Ball, and Campbell Schultz.
“We look forward to each season playing softball at the Rec. We are fortunate to have great fan support from family and friends,” said Terence Dempsey, the first baseman and member of the team for 41 years and counting. The Hammerheads always have packed bleachers with friends, family, and even grandparents in their 90s, ready to “root, root, root for the home team.”
It was a long time coming for the Hammerheads to secure the championship victory, as they hadn’t brought home the trophy since 2018. The Hammerheads are already excited about the 2026 season and are looking forward to what the future holds, but until then, get to wear their new shirts around town, knowing what a great season is now in the books.
This article was submitted to MyRye.com.
