THE STORY OF THE

THE FOOD FIGHTERS YEARS

1997 - 2000

The Gladiators began as the Food Fighters. In 1997, in an effort to pick up morale amongst his employees, Jason Fields of Conducive Catering came to Scott Asencio to manage a softball team made up of some of his employees as well as friends of Scott. Scott put together a rag-a-muffin team and they began play in Campbell at John D. Morgan Park. The first team did okay but went through the early struggles of a new softball team, with lack of commitment and unhappiness about when and where players played being at the top of the list. The Food Fighters continued to play at John D. Morgan Park, as well as a couple seasons at Twin Creeks. Their biggest success was being a finalist in the 2000 Winter Men's D Division. Current Gladiators, besides Scott, who played during the Food Fighters years are Thomas Parks, Frank Eric Chavez, Mark Kearney, Ruben Hernandez, John Diepeveen, Scott Hetherington, Craig Canion, Tony Valdez, Jeff Bowline, Kim Kimani and Julie Ashauer.

GLADIATORS YEAR ONE

2001

Year one of the Gladiators existence brought forth a new sponsorship. T & D Tile Co. Inc. was the sponsor of the Gladiators when they brought home their first Championship. Coming out of the fourth seed, the Gladiators played a hard fought game, winning by one run in extra innings, against the number one seed. They then took on the second seed in the Championship Game and with the momentum and excitement of the first game guiding and aiding them, the Gladiators easily won the 2001 Summer Men's Novice Division Championship. Many people came and went that year from the roster, as was the case in the previous years, when we were known as the Food Fighters. It was late during this year, that the senior team members decided that team chemistry and fun were the way the Gladiators should continue. The roster was purged and many new people were brought on board for the 2002 season.

GLADIATORS YEAR TWO

2002

Year two of the Gladiators existence brought many new team members and their first coed and corporate coed teams. With the help of Cristina Forney and Connie Brosze, the first coed team was put together. After season two, Connie left the team to move to Florida and Cristina took over as captain of the coed squad and recruited many of the women currently on our roster. The two coed teams, Spring and Summer, made the playoffs but could not get out of round one. The corporate coed team lost in the Fall Championship Game (after a month and a half postponement). The men's team continued to play well, winning the Gladiators second championship becoming the 2002 Summer Men's Novice Division Champion.

GLADIATORS YEAR THREE

DEDICATED TO OUR FALLEN GLADIATOR, OUR FALLEN FRIEND, TONY VALDEZ

2003

Year three of the Gladiators brought a few changes and some serious excitement. For one, the Gladiators began play at Memorial Park in Cupertino in the city's Sunday Coed Division during the Spring. Coming in as the fourth seed in the playoffs, the Gladiators knocked off the powerful first seeded team in the playoff game. Then went on to beat the second seeded team to earn themselves the Spring Season Championship. In the Fall, the Gladiators once again played at Twin Creeks on Wednesday Night and lost in the Championship Game though they had knocked off the number one seed to get to there.  The Gladiators also began a sponsorship relationship with The Britannia Arms in Cupertino, as well as continued their sponsorship relationships with Planet Fuel (which is owned by Gladiators softball club member Sheri Spackman) and T&D Tile Co. Inc..

GLADIATORS YEAR FOUR

2004

Year four of the Gladiators began with the Spring Men's Team knocking off the first place team to get to the second playoff game but lost, earning themselves fourth place. The Spring Coed Team lost in the finals due to forfeit but were winning when the game was called. The Summer #1 Men's Team also earned themselves fourth place. The Summer #2 Men's Team had serious championship aspirations but fell two runs short in the championship game earning themselves second place. The Fall Coed Team fell one run short of their championship goal earning themselves second place. Finishing out the year, the Fall Men's Team finished in fifth during their regular season and earned third place in the playoffs.

GLADIATORS YEAR FIVE

2005

Year five of the Gladiators began in the Spring with the Sunday Coed Team winning their second championship in four seasons. The Gladiators triumphed in a hard fought game over the undefeated Way Past Due team, who they had lost to in the championship game in the Fall 2004 season. The Gladiators returned for the Fall 2005 Sunday Coed season and played themselves into the championship game yet again. Unfortunately, Way Past Due was too much for them that day and they finished in second place. It was a bitter end to the season and the desire for another championship would have to burn inside them all until the 2006 Spring Coed Season.

GLADIATORS YEAR SIX

2006

Year six of the Gladiators begins in the Spring with the Sunday Coed Team.