European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 07, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A tags sir / a it s the top of the 312th or 332nd and time to hello therel play Ball. Is photo by Muenter Schuettler Mario Cervasio was outstanding in his first and last softball game. Weary grape Combine Nap with foot Bath by de Freakley staff writer obviously with a score of 658 to422 it was a pitchers Battle. Trouble was with 452 innings it was hard to figure just who was the win Ning  could probably look it up. Score keepers compiled 148 pages of record sin keeping track of the world s longest softball game in which the grape squeezed by the olives at san Vito air station Italy Over the labor Day week end in 122 nonstop hours of play. The Marathon which broke the old record of 117 hours set in 1967 by Wheeler fab Hawaii was staged to raise Money for eight orphanages and netted almost 11,000.and if you Haven t figured it out yet 122 hours comes to five Days with two lunch hours tossed in. Players came from the 8917th air Force Security Wing and Navy Security group at san Vito near Brindisi on the Heel of the italian Boot. Page 12 the game was played under Brightson cold stars and at one Point heavy rain. Through it All pitchers kept pitch ing sluggers slugging and spectators at times almost All of the base Popula Tion of 3,500 spectating they were in the game too. They tossed in the donations for the italian youngsters. While the medics May have stayed out of the spotlight their help was needed six bottles of liniment have cans of baby powder 21 Rolls of bandages and seven Rolls of tape. The grapes collected 968 hits the olives 662. Which adds up to 1,630. And in Case there Are any big league scout listening a Fence rattling 89 homers were Ron Goode of the grapes led the Way with 19 Over the Fence Home runs. Goode also led both teams in hitting with 128for 248 a .516 average thank you. Pitchers whiffed 71 and walked 174,which is also probably some sort of rec Ord. But then who knows the game was played under slow pitch rules with a few minor exceptions. At least one player from each team had to go the entire Yawn game  pitchers whiffed 71 and walked 174, which is also probably gome kind of record. Int then mho the stars and stripes with 10 men on a team. There were i substitutes available for each squad except for injuries or exhaustion players got two hours sleep for six hours on the Field. Those going la the Way grabbed a Nap while their teams were at Bat or during slow periods of play the Field and were allowed time to eat and visit the  they had to be there for their at bats and after Many weary hours the began to Hope for strikeouts and argue with the ump when he called a , incidentally were simply Glon. At one Point first Grade teacher Mary Ann Coscarelly took Over behind the plate wearing dark glasses. But the player were too tired to notice either the ump or her dark glasses. The game s outstanding Playo probably Mario Cervasio of the  twoot.5, 235-Pounder had never played Ball before and says he never will again. He collected 22 hits i 223 trips for a .099 average Cervasio was credited with playing saturday ale Osif Ball game j � f. Teacher Mary Ann Coscarelli helped out behind the plate. Sleeping bag doubled As jacket and bed in left Field. Or Giamo celebrated wedding anniversary with wife along first base line. More time than anyone else Takin Breaks totalling Only 18 minutes Over the five  How he managed to play so Long Cervasio said booze. I once stayed up seven Days  the hefty right fielder was termed the Pimento in our Olive by his team  2 . One morning col. Chester k. Ballengee Deputy commander of the Security Wing promised to donate $5 to the orphanage fund if Cervasio got a  talked it Over with his of. Ponets who immediately napped except for the Pitcher. Cervasio smashed a Home run Over second base and glee fully collected the five spot. Dependent wives responded Tocalis Over arts which broadcast continuously from the Field for lemonade and food. At one Point two women showed up with Complete Spaghetti Din ners for the players. A tent City was erected behind the the stars and stripes left Field Fence for  Friday night the olives third baseman Christopher Giamo celebrated his fifth wedding anniversary along the first base line with his  catching a pop up for the final out of the inning maybe the 180thor so he trotted Over in Grubby pants red hat and smelly shirt to meet his wife in a White cocktail dress and heels. They sat at a table covered with White cloth while a waiter served Cham pagne and Fried Chicken. After the Paus Giamo was Back in the Field. Sidelights included mail Call and sick Call every morning with one re enlist ment ceremony at Home  the last of the 452nd, the weary players slowly trudged off the Field. Wast fun of yes they chorused  no re matches huh from now on said one red Eye fielder the Only grapes i m interested in Are those for making wine and the Only olives in a  Page 13