Panther Parents 'Dynasty' Keeps Softball Crown, For Now
Jun 04, 2026 03:59PM ● By Mb News Staff
Sunday marked the historic 20th running of the annual Parents' Softball Classic, a local tradition begun in 2006.
In a happy coincidence, Costa softball won 20 games this year, for the first time since 2017, and made CIF playoffs.
At this year's parents' tournament, about 130 players contributed through registration fees, and the snack bar – with its daylong output of hot dogs and burgers (including bacon burgers donated by Manhattan Meats) – added to the total.
The tournament operates with volunteers from the softball boosters and the team's players. Dave Fratello, local real estate broker with Edge and publisher of MB News, serves as organizer and director of the tournament, with 2026 marking his 10th year in that role. Ross Kay founded the tournament and ran it for its first 10 years.
Official sponsors for the event were Fratello's Edge Real Estate Agency, MB Confidential and MB News. Manhattan Meats contributed bacon burgers for the snack stand to sell, and Stretch Lyfe sponsored a tent to help weary warriors bounce back throughout the day.
Mayor Joe Franklin and council member David Lesser spoke in appreciation of the tournament, and presented a special city commendation to organizers recognizing the 20th year.
But Pacific has made its mark. The school has fielded 2 teams in the tournament several years recently, with their "A" team advancing to the final 6 years in a row, often against major competition. Several key players from the recent run will move up to MBMS next year.
This year, Pacific's "A" team had an early rematch of last year's final versus Martyrs. Maybe there should have been a bigger crowd, even with the 10:15am start, but no matter – they would meet again.
Both Martyrs and Pacific seemed to have something to worry about, with an ascendant Robinson squad already with a win in the bank once their tie concluded. With 5 teams in their "Gold" division for the tournament, should either school suffer a loss during their final few games, they might fall behind, due to the tie.
Only the top 2 teams in each division advance to the playoffs.
Martyrs absolutely took care of business from that point on, burying Meadows under 15 runs right after the tie with Pacific, winning 3 games and giving up just 4 runs more in pool play.
Martys proved to be defensive champs for the second year in a row, giving up only 9 in pool play this year, and 8 last year. (The tournament's main tie-breaker is a defensive measure of runs-against. High scoring is not rewarded, while great defense is.)
Meantime, in the "Green" division, Mira Costa fielded perhaps its best team in years – a credit to tournament veterans who had "aged up" and knew how to construct a winner.
And then there was Pennekamp, the school that won 4 of the first 7 tournaments. The Dragons seemed to hibernate before re-emerging with a vengeance in 2021, competing heartily, making several finals and taking home a trophy in 2023. This year, despite missing key players, PK was undefeated (and untied), going 4-0 in pool play.
Pennekamp earned a late, crucial 7-5 win over the Costa team, putting 2nd place in the division – and a playoff slot – up for grabs.
Emerging in the “Green” division was Pacific’s so‑called “B” team – they’ve never loved the label, but they live with it – which opened by blanking recent‑champs MBMS and then pasted one of two Grand View squads, 16-2. But Pacific "B" was later outplayed by Costa, losing 7-11, setting up a vital 4th and last game.
The Founders, MBMS and Grand View's #1 team each had a rough go in the "Green" division, but if you ask any player from any of the teams (such as this writer), they fought, they made plays, kept it close and, with a twist here or there, might have had a different outcome. No one regretted going outside to play softball all day with buddies. (And some might have had time for a nice brunch at The Hangar.)
Two of the day's final matchups proved decisive. Costa (2-1) handled Grand View #1 with a 3-0 win. That left the high school with 15 total runs allowed. Meantime, Pacific "B" (2-1) had begun its final game with the Founders with 13 runs allowed. If both teams won, the runs-against tie-breaker – just 2 runs in favor of Costa – would kick in and determine who'd make the playoffs.
In just one inning, the Panthers' "B" team lost a playoff opportunity by surrendering 3 runs to the Founders squad (the first by this writer crossing the plate – sorry, guys).
The playoff matchups were Pacific "A" versus Pennekamp and Martyrs versus Costa.
In a brisk game lasting perhaps 20-25 minutes, Martyrs shut out Costa 1-0, leaving heads shaking – "Is that it?"
Meantime, PK versus Pacific "A" went on for spell. It was tight at first, 6-6 after a bit, before the Panthers transformed into steamroller and prevailed 14-6.
The final?
Of course, that would be Martyrs vs. Pacific "A." Again.
Kinda like Dodgers-Yankees. USC-Notre Dame. Brazil-Argentina. India-Pakistan. IYKYK.
You already know that Pacific took it home.
The final itself was another epic.
Pacific, bursting with momentum from its playoff game, scored 3 quickly in the top of the 1st. Martyrs took a bite, scoring one on a double play to make it 3-1.
Pacific added 2 in the 3rd, making it 5-1, but Martyrs used the bottom of the 4th to catch up by getting runners on and hitting liners to the outfield.
It was 5-5 entering the 6th and final inning. Each team set up a chance, but could not capitalize, bringing on extra innings, again. That's what these teams do.
Under "California tiebreaker" rules, extra innings begin with 1 out and a runner and 2nd.
Pacific hit into a quick 2nd out, but advanced their runner to 3rd, then scored him on the next at-bat with a line drive to left... 6-5. A deep fly to left confounded the outfielder and hit the fence, scoring a runner to make it 7-5.
In the bottom half, Martyrs could not manufacture anything. They walked away again as a top-tier team frustrated, after yet another final without a win.
Meantime, Pacific captain Ritter said, in typically bold fashion, "Absolutely this Pacific squad is a Dynasty. After taking back-to-back championships and 4 out of the last 6, there is no doubt this Pacific team goes down as one of the best in tournament history."
With the win, Pacific matched both Meadows and Pennekamp with 5 tournament victories. Robinson and MBMS each have 2, while Martyrs has one. With so many of its "A" team players moving up to MBMS next year, it's anyone's guess when Pacific might add another.
Families once again filled the Marine Sports Complex, with kids drifting between the bleachers, the snack bar and the open spaces around the fields, while parents battled it out in a steady rotation of games.
Midday, the tournament featured a special celebration of its 20th year, with the Mira Costa marching band highlighting a ceremony that also featured a special commendation from the City of Manhattan Beach.
This year’s bracket featured 11 parent teams representing schools across Manhattan Beach. The tradition has run long enough that a dedicated “Founders” squad now competes – made up of parents whose children have already aged out of the district – alongside teams from all five elementary schools, MBMS, Mira Costa and American Martyrs.
The always-fun day is also a major fund-raiser, with this year's total breaking a recent tournament record with more than $27,000 raised. Funds go to the MBX Foundation, and primarily benefit the Mira Costa girls' softball team.In a happy coincidence, Costa softball won 20 games this year, for the first time since 2017, and made CIF playoffs.
At this year's parents' tournament, about 130 players contributed through registration fees, and the snack bar – with its daylong output of hot dogs and burgers (including bacon burgers donated by Manhattan Meats) – added to the total.
The tournament operates with volunteers from the softball boosters and the team's players. Dave Fratello, local real estate broker with Edge and publisher of MB News, serves as organizer and director of the tournament, with 2026 marking his 10th year in that role. Ross Kay founded the tournament and ran it for its first 10 years.
Official sponsors for the event were Fratello's Edge Real Estate Agency, MB Confidential and MB News. Manhattan Meats contributed bacon burgers for the snack stand to sell, and Stretch Lyfe sponsored a tent to help weary warriors bounce back throughout the day.
Ceremony Marks 20 Years of the Classic
Midday before the tournament playoffs, there was a special ceremony at the main field to commemorate the 20th year of the event, deemed "A Local Tradition" on t-shirts made up for the day.
The Mira Costa marching band set the tone with several songs while players, coaches and past organizers gathered on the field. A wonderful a capella version of the Star Spangled Banner was sung by Costa freshman Dylan Brozost, who's active in Mira Costa's choirs and drama program and a past Beach Softball player.
Tournament director Fratello called up multiple past volunteers and longtime coaches for public praise, handing the mic to Kay for his own recollections about the event.Mayor Joe Franklin and council member David Lesser spoke in appreciation of the tournament, and presented a special city commendation to organizers recognizing the 20th year.
After the ceremony, Pacific captain Kevin Ritter said of the event, "It's become an incredible day of community, competition and charity. This tournament is marked on our calendars months in advance and gives a chance for ex-athletes to recapture a little glory. This event is part of what makes Manhattan Beach such a great community to live in.”
Pacific Parents Claim 4th Out of 6 with Back-to-Back Win
Everyone who plays in the Parents' Softball Classic knows about Meadows' incredible 5-year tournament winning streak from 2015-19. That feat will be hard to repeat.But Pacific has made its mark. The school has fielded 2 teams in the tournament several years recently, with their "A" team advancing to the final 6 years in a row, often against major competition. Several key players from the recent run will move up to MBMS next year.
This year, Pacific's "A" team had an early rematch of last year's final versus Martyrs. Maybe there should have been a bigger crowd, even with the 10:15am start, but no matter – they would meet again.
Martys and Pacific had played to a 2-2 tie at the end of regulation in last year's final, before Pacific scored 2 in the top of the 7th for the eventual win.
The morning game this year resulted in a 5-5 tie after 6, and a scoreless extra inning, leaving both teams with a tie to start the day. (This theme would repeat later.)Both Martyrs and Pacific seemed to have something to worry about, with an ascendant Robinson squad already with a win in the bank once their tie concluded. With 5 teams in their "Gold" division for the tournament, should either school suffer a loss during their final few games, they might fall behind, due to the tie.
Only the top 2 teams in each division advance to the playoffs.
Martyrs absolutely took care of business from that point on, burying Meadows under 15 runs right after the tie with Pacific, winning 3 games and giving up just 4 runs more in pool play.
Martys proved to be defensive champs for the second year in a row, giving up only 9 in pool play this year, and 8 last year. (The tournament's main tie-breaker is a defensive measure of runs-against. High scoring is not rewarded, while great defense is.)
Meantime, in the "Green" division, Mira Costa fielded perhaps its best team in years – a credit to tournament veterans who had "aged up" and knew how to construct a winner.
And then there was Pennekamp, the school that won 4 of the first 7 tournaments. The Dragons seemed to hibernate before re-emerging with a vengeance in 2021, competing heartily, making several finals and taking home a trophy in 2023. This year, despite missing key players, PK was undefeated (and untied), going 4-0 in pool play.
Pennekamp earned a late, crucial 7-5 win over the Costa team, putting 2nd place in the division – and a playoff slot – up for grabs.
Emerging in the “Green” division was Pacific’s so‑called “B” team – they’ve never loved the label, but they live with it – which opened by blanking recent‑champs MBMS and then pasted one of two Grand View squads, 16-2. But Pacific "B" was later outplayed by Costa, losing 7-11, setting up a vital 4th and last game.
The Founders, MBMS and Grand View's #1 team each had a rough go in the "Green" division, but if you ask any player from any of the teams (such as this writer), they fought, they made plays, kept it close and, with a twist here or there, might have had a different outcome. No one regretted going outside to play softball all day with buddies. (And some might have had time for a nice brunch at The Hangar.)
Two of the day's final matchups proved decisive. Costa (2-1) handled Grand View #1 with a 3-0 win. That left the high school with 15 total runs allowed. Meantime, Pacific "B" (2-1) had begun its final game with the Founders with 13 runs allowed. If both teams won, the runs-against tie-breaker – just 2 runs in favor of Costa – would kick in and determine who'd make the playoffs.
In just one inning, the Panthers' "B" team lost a playoff opportunity by surrendering 3 runs to the Founders squad (the first by this writer crossing the plate – sorry, guys).
The playoff matchups were Pacific "A" versus Pennekamp and Martyrs versus Costa.
In a brisk game lasting perhaps 20-25 minutes, Martyrs shut out Costa 1-0, leaving heads shaking – "Is that it?"
Meantime, PK versus Pacific "A" went on for spell. It was tight at first, 6-6 after a bit, before the Panthers transformed into steamroller and prevailed 14-6.
The final?
Of course, that would be Martyrs vs. Pacific "A." Again.
Kinda like Dodgers-Yankees. USC-Notre Dame. Brazil-Argentina. India-Pakistan. IYKYK.
You already know that Pacific took it home.
The final itself was another epic.
Pacific, bursting with momentum from its playoff game, scored 3 quickly in the top of the 1st. Martyrs took a bite, scoring one on a double play to make it 3-1.
Pacific added 2 in the 3rd, making it 5-1, but Martyrs used the bottom of the 4th to catch up by getting runners on and hitting liners to the outfield.
It was 5-5 entering the 6th and final inning. Each team set up a chance, but could not capitalize, bringing on extra innings, again. That's what these teams do.
Under "California tiebreaker" rules, extra innings begin with 1 out and a runner and 2nd.
Pacific hit into a quick 2nd out, but advanced their runner to 3rd, then scored him on the next at-bat with a line drive to left... 6-5. A deep fly to left confounded the outfielder and hit the fence, scoring a runner to make it 7-5.
In the bottom half, Martyrs could not manufacture anything. They walked away again as a top-tier team frustrated, after yet another final without a win.
Meantime, Pacific captain Ritter said, in typically bold fashion, "Absolutely this Pacific squad is a Dynasty. After taking back-to-back championships and 4 out of the last 6, there is no doubt this Pacific team goes down as one of the best in tournament history."
With the win, Pacific matched both Meadows and Pennekamp with 5 tournament victories. Robinson and MBMS each have 2, while Martyrs has one. With so many of its "A" team players moving up to MBMS next year, it's anyone's guess when Pacific might add another.
Parents' Softball 2026 [22 Images]
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