Okay, softball junkies, here it is Thursday, November 6 and the SADDLEBAG NOTES deadline time. Yeah, about 10 days earlier than usual. But we’ve got the Thanksgiving holidays this month. So, here’s the past and future in the action-packed world of SaddleBrooke softball. You won’t be areadin’ this until mid-December and our Veterans Day tourney will be in “the books” by then. NEXT UP? St. Patty’s Day tourney in March.
Fall League ActionWell folks, we’re just five weeks into the fall season, which runs to Friday, December 12 and the softball is heating up just as the weather is cooling down. The snowbirds are back in town (mostly) and the rosters are packed.
On Mondays, in Recreational (single A), Catalina Family Dental is off to a 3-1 start over Community Church of SaddleBrooke at 1-3. Over to Community (AAA), Lynda Meyer – Long Realty has jumped out to a 4-2 league lead, with Shifren Physical Therapy not far behind at 4-3, but with Heredia’s Landscaping digging deep into the cellar at 2-5. Trade rumors? We’ll see.
Tuesday is Competitive (AAAA) only this fall and as the birds have flocked back into town, there are three teams. Hardin Bros. Automotive is off to SMOKIN’ start at 6-1, with Concierge A/C the beneficiary of a 3 man trade recently and now 3-4 with a double header victory (victories, I should say) this week and Dominick’s Real Italian still getting rolled at 1-5.
On Wednesdays in Sidewinder (AA), The Moore Advantage-Real Estate is off to a 3-2 start over Tom Ottaway-State Farm at 2-3. In Community, Cleere Law Offices are clearly the league “muffins” at the moment with a 5-2 record over SaddleBrooke HOA-1 at 3-4 and Nara Brown – Long Realty at 2-4.
Thursday is Coyote day (65-plusers) and Ambient Air H&C are 3 and 2 over with their H&C colleagues, Twin Lake Air at 2-3.
On Fridays, in Competitive, Ridgeview Physical Therapy has massaged its way to a 4-1 league lead, while SaddleBrooke HOA-2 is now 3 and 3 and Hughes Credit Union languishing in the cellar at 1-4. In Community, there’s a battle with Harn Legacy and Oro Ford tied at 3-2, and Red Earth Tile at 2-4.
Our Own SaddleBrooke
World Champion That’s right fans. While the rest of the SaddleBrooke Softball world snoozed (on break), our own Scott Lundgren and his “traveling team,” the Arizona Monsoon (65AAA Senior) cruised up to Lost Wages and on Thursday, September 25 and defeated the Albuquerque Asphalt at 12-3 for the 2025 Fall World Championship. Playing second base for the Monsoon, Scotty batted .700 for the tournament with one homer!!!!! Congrats, Scott!
“And the Rattlers”And, oh by the way, the Rattlers, (all SaddleBrooke-player team), managed, organized and ramrodded by Debbie Seguin, a longtime SaddleBrooke softballer, traveled up to Payson in early September and took the weekend 60+ championship. Next up? Green Valley this coming weekend on Saturday, November 8 and Sunday, November 9. I’ll report on that in the next edition.
Illegal Equipment and Player ResponsibilityNow, in May, I wrote about softball equipment. One section was devoted to the types of softball bats used/permitted in SaddleBrooke softball. But since the league had an “illegal” bat issue pop up this last week, I thought to run it by again.
Well, as I wrote back in May, there are essentially two bats used in SaddleBrooke softball: the “hot” (ISA) bat and da “other(ASA).” It essentially comes down to “compression”—the “hotter” bat has a bit more “pop” and therefore is allowed in some leagues and by certain players, but not in others and by others. The “hotter” bat is permitted in the Competitive league by all players; in all leagues, by all the women players; in Community, Sidewinder, Coyote by all men over 75 or turning 75 in the current year; and in Recreational, by all men over 85. If you don’t meet these criteria, you gotta use the ASA bat.
These bats are CLEARLY MARKED with ASA or ISA logos and of course there are plenty of “bat experts” around to help you out if the “badging” on the bat is confusing.
Now, if an illegal bat is used or “suspected,” the opposing team can call for a check or the umpire can check any time. If the bat is found to be illegal, the bat gets tossed out of the game. The penalty (after a hit) is the hit is nullified, the batter is out, and the runners return to their respective bases. But generally (in the author’s opinion anyway) it should be every player’s responsibility to know the rules and to know they are using the proper (and legal) equipment for their league and their age. Nuff said.
Post-Game WrapAnnnnd CUT! That’s a wrap, folks! Fall league games are daily, Monday through Friday, starting at 8 a.m. Three games a day on Monday and Friday—two on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and just one on Thursdays. So beat the heat; come on down early! Practices are on Saturday when you can tune the bat and glove. If you want more info, come on down to the field – someone will yap with you. Or you can surf the Association (the SSSA) at saddlebrookesoftball.com.
Save the date for Our St. Patrick’s Day TournamentThis will take place in March. Put it on the calendar!
U of A president declines to sign shared governance contract with faculty
