Recreation League action – so close! Charles Hendryx tries to hand off the ball to Charlie Kennedy but this (mystery) runner is safe; photo by Paul Jarzembinski.
Competitive League action – David Fuller at first is ready to make this out on pitcher Rick Keagy; photo by Dennis Purcell.
Community/Coyote action – Yes, white guys can jump! Ken Beals makes a leaping catch; photo by Dennis Purcell.
Jonathan Green
Exciting close games, lots of well-fed and enthusiastic fans and perfect weather played well for SaddleBrooke Senior Softball Association’s (SSSA) St. Patrick’s Tournament, Saturday, March 18.
SSSA thanks Patrick Shaffer, DDS, for sponsoring his namesake tournament once again this year and Doug Wagers, Window Wizard, for cooking the brats and dogs on his renowned Louisiana Cooker.
All the games were well played and close. Here’s the action:
Game 1 – Recreation League: Wearing visitor’s blue, HomeTeam Pest Defense, managed by Dale Norgard, led off with three and five in the first two innings. It looked like a runaway but Janice Mihora’s Long Realty Kerry Blount team nibbled away as the blue stalled out 8 to 5 after four. Then the blue posted a five-run fifth and carried a 15 to 7 margin into the seventh and final inning. They zeroed in the top only to watch white charge back in the bottom. But a spectacular catch by blue’s Charlie Kennedy stopped white’s charge short for a 15 to 12 blue win.
Mihora and Jim Watts hit triples for the white team. Kennedy went 4/4 and Janet Jarzembinski and Mike Hoedel were 4/5 for blue.
Game 2 – Competitive League: Visitors Johnston’s Pest Solutions in blue, managed by Harold Weinenger, started strong with five in the first but cooled until posting another five in the fifth. Somewhat more consistent, Manny’s Organization Station, with Jeff Stolze managing, caught and passed in the fifth, 12 to 11. Then Stolze’s white team put up three more in the sixth. Blue was through. Final: White 15, Blue 11. Len Gann once again fed a three-run homerun into the Dog Park for blue, and Terry McNellis ran an inside-the-parker to lead off the fifth for white. Other hitting stars for the winners were Joe Sanders 4/4, Lynn Laureys 3/3 and Gus Marano with a double and a triple in a ¾ performance. For blue both Bobby Carbone and Ron Q____________, uh, just “Q” went 3/3 with doubles.
Game 3 – Community/Coyote Leagues: The white shirted homies of Mi Pueblito, managed by John Nola, hit a bunch in all but the third inning and posted 21 runs in six innings. The blue of Lexus of Tucson, managed by Paul Butler, caught them—sort of. They actually were ahead 19 to 18 after 5½ until white put up three in their half of the sixth making it 21 to 19. And that was it. Two fly-outs and a fielder’s choice were all that the blue could do in the seventh. For the winners Tom Klein and John Woolmington were 4/4. John Sentowski’s 4/4 and Don Cox’s HR were hitting highlights for the blue.
SSSA’s next tournament will be Monday, May 29, Memorial Day. Games, food and fun, of course, plus a Memorial Day tribute. You will want to be there.