Let’s talk SOFTBALL!!!
Labor Day TournamentThat’s right! On Monday, September 2, starting around 8:30 a.m., the SaddleBrooke Senior Softball Association (SSSA) will be putting on a softball extravaganza with three (maybe four) games of softball “dramedy.” Also, in store will be food, drinks, tunes and insightful commentary. And yes, the stands have fans! Sponsored by Debra Miller, State Farm Insurance with the dogs and brats grilled up by longtime grill master, Doug Wagers of Window Wizards. Boy, howdy!
Summer League ActionAlrighty then. The Summer league started up Monday, July 15 and is now in full “swing!” A full complement of leagues, from recreational to competitive are on slate. There are not as many teams this time of year, of course, because the snowbirds are up north and the heat keeps a few “otherwise” regulars home watching Perry Mason or Gunsmoke.
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On Mondays, in Recreational, Ambient Air Heating & Cooling is out to a 4-1 start, with Coyote Golf Cars in the cellar at 1-4. Then, in community (AAA ball), The Moore Advantage Realtors are 2-3 and Tucson Orthopaedic has the league lead at 3-2.
On to Tuesdays! In community, Twin Lake Air Conditioning and Heating is out to a 3-2 start over Waste Management’s 2-3. In competitive (AAAA), Andy’s Irrigation is 2-3 and Tom Ottaway-State Farm is on top of the league at 3-2.
On Wednesdays, it’s Sidewinder only this summer and Wanda Fudge-Long Realty is 2-3, while their partners in softball mayhem, Wildfire Wings, is 3-2.
Thursdays, it’s Coyote only (but not Coyote ugly… well, never mind) and the 65-plusers have Window Wizards at 3-2 and X-Pert Automotive at 2-3.
On to TGI Fridays—although most of the time I can’t tell Monday from Friday anymore… In competitive, Splendido is 3-0 and Your CBD Store bringing up the rear at 0-3. It’s early though folks!!!!!!! Next, in community ball, Ann Fraley-Long Realty jumped out to win the first three games and are 3-0, while Beyond Clean is 0-3.
Softball “Tourism”Some folks around SaddleBrooke are known to travel a bit as part of their retirement “gig.” Road trips, cruises, hiking, and YES, SOFTBALL TOURNAMENTS. Yup, some of our members are just plain softball junkies and part of their retirement travel plans include softball tournaments. In fact, Lost Wages (Las Vegas) hosts (or did in 2023) the World Series of Softball. A number of our members play in “outside” tournaments year round with their “tournament team” traveling regionally, but also throughout the country. If you win enough games, the World Series is in your sight.
2023 World SeriesThree SSSA players made it to Vegas in the 75 plus category last September (there’s lots of “divisions”) and brought home the World Series “bacon.” And the champions’ World Series rings. Ed Clark, Len Gann and Paul Auster traveled to Vegas for the three (four?) day blast and went (help me guys if I got this wrong) 9-0 against national competition!
The Lew Huartson Senior Softball Tournament in Silver City, New Mexico – August 2024That’s right, a group of SaddleBrooke softball junkies traveling under the name The SaddleBrooke Rattlers went to Silver City for a three-day tournament and BROUGHT HOME THE GOLD going 5-1 in their six games to take down the championship in their division. There were 23 teams overall (x 12 players mostly, so, 275 players) and five teams in their “B” division. This tournament had four divisions (ABCD) with A the highest skilled and mostly, per my source, team honcho Debbie Seguin, 50+ year olds. The Rattlers B division was mostly 55+ and some 60 plusers. And so on, with D division mostly 70 plusers.
Per Debbie, the Rattlers were 3-1 “going into bracket,” whatever that means, and nailed their last two games, including beating the team they lost to in prelims for the championship, at 23 to 22!!!!! That team, according to Seguin, was made up of all 50+ players, including SSSA’s own Richie Figueroa. The crafty coach loaded up on speed (a rare commodity in our softball world and too often overlooked in this author’s not so humble opinion) and cited this as one of the keys late in the championship game.
Well, that’s it softball fans. The Summer league runs until Friday, September 20. AND …. As I said “up top”, our Labor Day tournament will be held on Monday, September 2, so, be there. There should be a full day of softball action, music, food and fun. Up next, the softballers will take a late September break and be back in action the second week of October or so. The snow birds will start drifting back down from the soon-to-be-frozen north and the leagues should swell to their fall and winter numbers.
In the meantime, you can always come down to the field and check the softball action Monday through Friday (and the junkies are usually down practicing on Saturdays as well). Find more information—including standings and stats—visit saddlebrookesoftball.com.
Just a reminder for you Roundup Readers up north at the Ranch, get on down here and check the softball action out. You are more than welcome. In the meantime, keep swinging!
