Well, SaddleBrooke and Ranch Senior Softball fans, here it is, Wednesday, January 15 (the big 74 for yours truly!!) and nearly Saddlebag Notes deadline time. You won’t be reading this till the end of January when the SaddleBrooke Softball winter season will be about four weeks in “progress” by then. Yep, our fall league “be over” and the SaddleBrooke Softballers are back at it until mid-April. YIKES!
SaddleBrooke Ranchers WelcomeThat’s what I said! Yeah, all you Ranchers, in case you didn’t know, are welcome to come on down to the SaddleBrooke Softball Field, check it all out and, if you’re feeling like strapping on the cleats again, sign up.
Tournament ActionOut St. Patrick’s Day Tournament is upcoming, on Saturday, March 15. Be there or be square. It will be the happening spot in SaddleBrooke that day. Erin go bragh, baby (whatever that means). As they say in the old country (Grandpa and Grandma were from Cork or Killarney or maybe it was Blarney), “Every man is sociable until a cow invades his garden!” Amen to that, I say!!
SaddleBrooke Softball 20th AnniversaryThat’s right! Ray (Pappy Van Winkle) Spakowski, infielder extraordinaire, has reminded me several times (and it finally took—how’d that happen?) that 2025 will be SaddleBrooke Softball’s 20th anniversary here at the softball field in the Brooke. Yep, a buncha softballers used to travel into the surrounding communities to get their softball fix, but our beautiful field down near the DesertView facility and Dog Park, opened up for play 20 years ago. So, stay tuned as yours truly learns more about “Anniversary doings!”
Winter League ActionIn the meantime, it’s been colder’n a well digger’s derriere, so, some game days were canceled “in toto”. Back in my day, such doings would never had happened. But apparently this generation of ballplayers are a buncha candy… well, never mind. ‘Nuff said there.
So, anyhoo, there has not been much action as the Prez canceled full days as the chill settled in and the wind whipped through the Brooke.
On Mondays, Recreational (single A ball) got all their games in and Clear View Window Cleaning has taken a commanding (for now) 3-0 lead over Debra Miller-State Farm at 1-1 and Brittni Guttman-Allstate at 0-3. In the Community (AAA) Beyond Clean is at 1-0, Ambient Air Heating and Cooling is 1-1 and Cactus Overhead Garage Doors trails at 1-2.
On Tuesdays, in Community, Cleere Law Offices won their first start and is 1-0 to their softball partners in mayhem, Dominick’s Italian 0-1. In Competitive, Leah Kari Solutions is off to a hot start, taking their first three games and is 3-0. Concierge Heating and A/C is holding on at 1-2, but Hughes Credit Union is overdrawn at 0-3.
The Wednesday, Thursday and Friday leagues all missed their first week games. Ouch! Well, Mother Nature ain’t to be messed with. But it’ll be warming up soon and by the time you all read this, the softballers shouldn’t have many, or any, game cancellations.
A First? Our Wife and Husband Game Homers—Yes!Can it be?????? The first husband/wife HOME RUN DUO in the same game????? That’s right, SaddleBrooke softball fans and friends, the partnership of Robin Kingsley and Don Gentner both (inside the park) homered in the first Tuesday Competitive League game (Robin’s first ever Competitive League game); Robin for Leah Kari Solutions and Don for Concierge Heating & A/C. Don slapped one into the center field gap (or was it left? WHO CARES?) and Robin caught the right fielder not “underestimating” her power and creeping in and popped it over his head and to the fence. Well, anytime Don or Robin get one by the outfielders, that’s pretty much “all she wrote” as these two can still actually run. And with speed, no less!!!!
Are You Kidding Me—a 19 Run InningWell, as I often write, “Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug!” In Monday Community, Ambient Air Heating & Cooling went down to Cactus Overhead Garage Doors 44 to 39. THAT’S RIGHT! Including a NINETEEN RUN inning comeback by Ambient for a five run lead. WHICH THEY COULDN’T HOLD!!!! Double OUCH. Well, yours truly is often on the mound and so sympathized with Ed Peters, who took the 19-run thumping and watched helplessly as he served it up to hit after hit. Even so, he came back for the doubleya in the end. Way to hang in there, Ed!
That’s a WrapDon’t forget our St. Patrick’s Day Tournament coming up on Saturday, March 15. With Winter leagues usually at peak participation, at least three, if not four tournament games of SaddleBrooke Softball “dramedy” and food, fun, music and chatter. The weather should be perfecto!
In the meantime, c’mon down to the field and check the action. Over the break, the softball junkies will be down at the field most days tuning up their gloves and bats, or as is often the case, standing around in the outfield shooting the breeze with anyone who will listen to them. Or you can surf us at saddlebrookesoftball.com. Softball action takes place every weekday, with practices twice a week and a league for all skill levels. We’re always looking for new players. And, just so you “SaddleBrooke Ranchers” know, the Association welcomes your participation!
Puerto Peñasco visitors will soon face tourist permit enforcement
