Well, SaddleBrooke Senior Softball fans and friends, here it is… Thursday, July 11, the deadline for Saddlebag Notes… that means softball happenings from the golden fingertips of yours truly!
WAIT a minute, you say! Mitch, where you been? Well, the old Mitchster has been on a bit of a “break.” But the doctors all agreed that I was no longer a threat to myself and members of the public and so I’ve been “released into general society” on “geezer watch.” Gotta wear this ankle thingy, though. WHO CARES!!!! Let’s talk SOFTBALL, right?
The SSSA Spring season wound up Friday, June 28 (and you won’t be reading this till the end of July) and the softballers were “on break/rest/heal/recuperate” until Monday, July 15 when the leagues started up again. This Summer season continues until Friday, September 20. As usual, there will be a Recreation (A ball) league, Sidewinders (AA), Community (AAA), Competitive (AAAA), and Coyote (65 and up with an occasional age exception to fill the rosters). The objective is a skill level league for anyone and everyone wanting to get out and enjoy this great game. Come on down to the field and check it all out. Someone will be there Monday through Friday mornings and can clue you in. If they go on too long, just say “I’ve got a doctor’s appointment,” and run for it… always works for me.
People are also reading…
Memorial Day Tournament HighlightsAs noted in the last issue of the Progress Newspaper, our Memorial Day Tournament is in the books and was appreciatively sponsored by Ambient Air Heating & Cooling and Coyote Golf Carts. We had a rip-roaring crowd down for some softball “dramedy,” tunes, brats, dogs, burgers and more! With Tournament Directors, Ann and Dale Pizzatola working their logistical “magic,” the softballers put on a show.
Spring League Action Well, there were some league rip-roaring battles this spring and a couple of “derriere-paddlings” as well. The League Commissioners strive for competitive-balance in pre-season “selection” and also with an occasional mid-season trade. Nonetheless, sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug.
In Monday Recreational, KJK Insurance Advocates had the upper hand all season pounding out a 5-2 record. The “poundees” were SaddleBrooke HOA-1 at 2-5. In Monday Community, powerhouse Oro Ford cruised to a 5-2 record over Robson Communities at 2-5. Ouch!
Tuesday Competitive, however, was more “competitive” with Clearview Window Cleaning and Cactus Overhead Garage Doors slugging it out ending with a 6-3 record for Clearview to the Cacti’s 3-6.
On Wednesdays, in the Sidewinder league, again, a battle with Shifren Physical Therapy ended with a 5-3 record and SaddleBrooke Remodeling at 3-5. In the Community league, Leah Kari Medicare Solutions just plain hammered Red Earth Tile and Stone all season long, ending with a 7-2 record to the Stoners’ 2-7.
On Coyote Thursdays, The Charles Company took league honors with a 5-3 record with Jim Click Automotive ending up in second (well, the cellar) at 3-5.
Over to Fridays and in the Community league, again a hammering with Players Pub just skadoodling Rancheros Market all season long, even with a mid-season trade, ending with an 8-0 record to Rancheros’ 0-8. Quote from the Rancheros’ bench? “TGIO (Thank God It’s Over!).” Competitive was tighter, with Stone Canyon Painting sewing up the league title with a 5-2 record to SaddleBrooke HOA2’s 2-5.
Some “notable” performances? You betcha!
In Monday Recreational, Steve Snow “snowballed” the competition pounding out a .862 average with five taters in 29 ABs. Nice. And at the young age of 82? 83? (help me Q), Ron Quarantino continued his storied SaddleBrooke Softball career with a .759 average, four doubles and three homers in 29 ABs.
Monday Community saw Sam Alkhoury bat .800 with seven singles, three doubles, five trips, and one homer in just 20 ABs. Nice, Sammy! Barry Emmons had a great season also batting .828 with a coupla dingers in 29 ABs. And I gotta mention (cuz I’m writing this article), yours truly went from an .800 average to .783 on the last swing of the season when Ron Romac at third snared a howitzer line drive off my bat. Didn’t even get outta the box!! Honestly, I don’t think he even saw it—just stuck out his glove.
In Tuesday Competitive, Steve Jackson and Tim Ward both had .800+ seasons, Steve with 31 ABs and Tim with 17 (on the DL for a couple games).
On Wednesdays, in Community, Morlin Hastings went .784 in 37 ABs with eight doubs and three trips. In Sidewinder, Jay Crenshaw made a comeback going .826 in 23 ABs. Misty Atkins showed that the women in SB softball are no slouches, batting .727 in 22 plate appearances. Oh yeah, and on the 80-year-old plus side (right Mike?), Mike “Hammertime” Hamm batted .794 in 34 ABs.
On to Thursday in Coyote, Morlin Hastings went .871, with five doubs, two trips and four taters. A slugging percentage of 1.548!!!!
In Friday Community, Greg Gurewitz batted .893 in 28 ABs. That’s some nice swinging, Greg! And in Friday Competitive, both Mark Adolph and Bill Spevak batted .900 plus!!!!!!!!! Yikes! Mark recording just 12 ABs, but Bill piling up 27 hits in 30 ABs. Nice, Bill.
Well that’s it for now softball fans. Remember, our summer season will run until Friday, September 20 and out Labor Day Tournament will be held on Thursday, September 5. There should be a full day of softball action, music, food and fun. Then the softballers will take a late September break and be back in action the second week of October or so. The snowbirds 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 (often, Saturdays too) or you find more information online, including standings and stats, at saddlebrooksoftball.com.
