Over the past couple of weeks, Veterans Memorial Park has come out of its winter rest, as Sun City Softball Club’s practices are underway.
About 200 players on 14 teams will take to the diamond in 16-inch A.M., 16-inch P.M., and a 12-inch softball leagues. May 11 is opening night with the Adjusters and Coyotes of the 16-inch PM league going at it in a contest starting at 5:30 p.m.
“We have more players than last year, due to advertising and more exposure,” Sun City Softball Club President Chuck Hund said. “We have a stand-by list. The ages of the players are still from the 60s to 80s.”
The Sun City Softball Club will continue to give back to the community at its All-Star game, and raffle fund-raisers. Grafton Food Pantry and Home of the Sparrow and Pathway to Hope have been the recent beneficiaries.
A breakdown of the three leagues’ teams: 16-inch P.M., Adjusters, Coyotes, Monarchs, Hurricanes, Mustangs, Lumbarjacks, Travelers and Capitals. For the 16-inch A.M league, Bucketlisters, Sluggers and Moneybags and for the 12-inch league, Molars, Mobilizers and Centurions.
There will be an all-star game played July 24 and the annual playoff tournament is slated to begin Aug. 17.
Players’ outlooks
It was a sunny Saturday when several teams hit the field for workouts April 11, following the draft of players April 8.
“It’s just fun to be out – like kids playing ball,” first year Adjusters manager Phil Tarrant said. “We’re still competitive, and want to win.”
Adjusters team member Bob Ruckoldt, who is also club treasurer, is looking forward to the season.
“This is my 20th year,” he said. “I have been a player, manager and now I’m the scorekeeper. It’s going to be a good year. We should do well.”
Teammate Ed Levkulich is equally optimistic.
“I’m excited – we have a lot of good, new players and guys coming back,” he said. “I play primarily first base, but also pitch. I took a year off last year, but decided to come back with weight training and running.”
Last year’s second-place tournament team, the Monarchs, have most of their players returning.
“I love it, we get to act like 12-year-olds,” shortstop Rich Pearl of the Monarchs said with a smile.
Fifth-year player Drew Catania wore his Lumbarjacks “2025 Champions” shirt proudly.
“I’m very excited for this season,” he said. “We have most everyone back, have a great team and a great coaching staff.”
Some recent champions of the season-ending 16” tournament: 2021, Capitals; 2022, Monarchs; 2023, Monarchs, Coyotes; 2024, Coyotes and 2025, Lumbarjacks.
Sun City Softball Club Board members are: President, Hund; secretary, Rich Pearl; treasurer, Bob Ruckoldt; vice presidents John Roccosanto, Vito Bonigno; Mike Kaczmarek and Jeff Williams.
