2009 Flor de Caña (FDC) Softball:
Unwavering Commitment to Excellence
2009 NAFA-A World Series
Sioux Falls, SD
“The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure. These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur.”
– Vince Lombardi
August 09, 2009
The 2009 season will go down in Flor de Caña (FDC) Softball history as one of a promise fulfilled, but not complete. FDC’s 2009 squad was touted as the best in the team’s 4 year history, which dates back to 2006. This team did not fail to live up to lofty expectations. An honorable 3rd place finish at the 2009 NAFA-A World Series (67 North American Teams Qualified) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota cemented the mark of pedigree to FDC.
FDC’s previous best finish was 13th overall, which the team achieved twice in 2006 and 2008. The 3rd place World Series finish announced that FDC is able to have success at a national level.
There were several heroes that paved the way for FDC’s success, 
perhaps none more important than Head Coach Tom Dudley. The 2009 season began with Tom as the team’s first baseman. Through the first 12 games of the season, Tom anchored down his position and continued to effectively slap from the left side of the plate. Tom’s precision slapping abilities were in and of themselves remarkable because he could still put pressure on defenses despite diminished speed due to back surgeries.
Mounting injuries, the result of Tom’s tenacious style of play, resulted in another visit to the Doctor. This time the conversation wasn’t a negotiation of how many games Tom would need to sit (which to Tom meant 10% of what the Doctor insisted was necessary), but instead a warning of paralysis. A potentially catastrophic combination of fusing vertebrae and floating bone chips could do irreversible spinal damage should Tom dive or fall in the wrong way.
Most men sell the bat bag immediately, if not sooner. Tom reported that he would finish the 2009 season and retire once it was over. Despite great resistance and his inherent desire to continue to be on the field, he finally agreed to refrain from play to avoid the possibility that his friends and teammates might have to bear the agony of seeing him paralyzed. Tom made another great sacrifice…he took the helm as Head Coach responsible for all on-field decisions and in the process led FDC to its best finish ever at Major Tournament.
NAFA World Series: WorldSeriesStats.pdf
FDC finished the 2009 season with a final record of 37 Wins – 22 Losses – 1 Tie. This included the following prominent achievements:
3rd Place NAFA World Series
Champions – SCIFL 3 (Santa Fe Springs, CA)
Champions – SCIFL 4 (Las Vegas, NV)
2nd Place – SCIFL 8 (Santa Fe Springs, CA)
Champions – SCIFL 9 (Santa Fe Springs, CA)
The 2009 Season also marked FDC’s first ever selections to the All-World Team:
2009 First Team All-World
#19 - David Carrillo#24 – Joe Janicke
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