Well, SaddleBrooke and Ranch Senior Softball fans, here it is, Thursday, December 12, 2024, and deadline time for Saddlebag Notes. You won’t be reading this till the end of December and by then, the SaddleBrooke fall season will be two weeks in “da books”. Yep, all leagues are decided except for Friday Competitive. The boys and girls of summer (and fall, winter and spring) will be back in action the second week of January for a 15-week (phew!) winter season. Till APRIL! YIKES! In the meantime…
Ranchers Welcome!That’s what I said! Yeah, all you SaddleBrooke Ranchers, in case you didn’t know, are welcome to come on down to the SaddleBrooke softball field to check it all out and, if you’re feeling like strapping on the cleats again, sign up.
Tournament Action
- St. Patrick’s Day, next March! Saturday, March 15, I think. More later...
SaddleBrooke Softball’s 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 SB 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!”
Fall League Action In the meantime… The fall league is all but wrapped up. As my fingertips glide effortlessly (arthritically?) over the keys, all’s left in Friday the 13Th!!!!! (Friday, December 13, that is). Uh-oh!!!
On Mondays, in Recreational, Cleere Law Offices stormed back from early woes to capture the league title at 7-2 over Debra Miller-State Farm’s 2-7. In Community, Pride Mechanical stumbled from the early season lead as Kristy McInnis-Coldwell Banker kept grinding to take a narrow and hard fought league title at 7-5 over Pride’s 7-6. Desert Life Pharmacy just couldn’t muster the mustard and ended at 4-7.
On Tuesdays, in Community, there was a very tight race as Absolutely Art and Golf Cars of Arizona both ended at 8-5 and tied for the league championship. Healthy Skin Dermatology was the league “thumpee” trailing both at 4-10. Oh well, sometimes you’re the bug. In Competitive, Brittni Guttman-Allstate out-gutted Catalina Family Dental with a 6-4 record over the Dentists’ 4-6.
Wednesday Community had another tight race, with Barron Electric and Canine & Co. battling to 5-5 records and a tie for the league title (and cellar, I guess). Over in Sidewinder, Old Pueblo Trash Haulers dropped FOUR in a row on the way to the trash heap (the cellar) letting Nara Brown-Long Realty storm to the league title 6-4 to 4-6.
Thursday is Coyote day and another tight race, with Dominick’s Italian taking home the salami at 5-4 to Concierge Heating and Cooling’s 4-5.
Finally, over to Fridays. Well, here at deadline time (Thursday), there is still one day of action left for the Friday SB’ers. In Community ball, however, Hughes Credit Union is 5-3 and Janine Denning-Coldwell Banker is 3-5. So… Even the sidewalk peanut gallery guys can see where that’s heading. Even with a loss, Hughes will take down the league title. Howsomeever… over in Competitive, it’s Big Bear Garage Doors at 6-5 with both the Community Church of SaddleBrooke and SaddleBrooke Pet Rescue-Bill Wescoe at 5-5. BUT… the Church has a DOUBLE HEADER tomorra!!!! Two wins gives them the league title. Two losses earn them the cellar. With a win, Big Bear takes the title. With a win Pet Rescue can only make second. A thrilla in SaddleBrookevilla!!!!!
Fall League Honorable MentionsNow, as you know, I don’t toot many horns (except my own) in these articles, BUT… I’m ….
Tossin’ out a couple of “Shouts of Honor” for the Monday Community League this fall season (and since my brother sez, “How come you never mention me?”):
Dan Reed with a league –leading 59 at-bats (with four walks to boot!). Dan showed up every game (no mean feat around here).
John Woolmington with a league honors for OPS (on-base, plus slugging) at 2.009 (but with only 29 ABs). Still, that’s some hitting!
Ryan “the bro” Mitchell in 34 ABS (went cruisin’), led the league with five homers, seven walks (a tie with Terry “you gotta throw strikes, Mitch, or I ain’t swingin’” Mihora) and second in OPS (tops with minimum 30 ab’s) at 1.903 (.706 AVG.).
That’s a WrapDon’t forget!! 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 too!
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 occurs 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!
Happy New Year, All!
Puerto Peñasco visitors will soon face tourist permit enforcement
