Veterans Memorial Field is set and practices have been in earnest for the new Sun City Softball Club season’s opening day, with the first pitch at 5:30 p.m. May 12.
“We’re ready for the new year and hope we won’t be hindered by the weather on opening night,” Sun City Softball Club President Chuck Hund said. “We have a great field crew, led by John Roccosanto, who has worked on leveling the field.”
Speaking on a rare warm April afternoon, Hund said 15 teams will be competing in leagues of 16-inch (morning and evening) and 12-inch leagues. The team total is two fewer than 2024.
Hund, who has been part of Sun City Softball Club for eight years, said the Huntley club is No. 1 for him.
“I play in other leagues, but Sun City Softball Club is always my mainstay,” he said.
Hund said the local club has some unique rules, which allow new players to get hits as well as older players. Also, the club hosts an all-star game on July 25 and will have an expanded playoff this year.
“I think the new players are somewhat surprised it is so competitive. Softball clubs aren’t for everyone, they think it is just fun,” Hund said.
Two of the veterans of the teams, Ed Fabro and John Barrett, discussed their careers with My Sun Day News.
Fabro has a definite softball highlight. His team won the Senior Softball World Championship in 2016. The national tournament was in Las Vegas, Nevada. His last senior national tournament was a few years ago in Florida.
“It was a group of guys from Huntley and Chicago, who got together and played softball,” Fabro said.
A switch in positions from outfield to infield will be on tap this year for Fabro.
“This year, I’ll be playing pitcher, because I don’t have any more speed for left field,” Fabro said.
It will be his 20th year in Sun City Softball Club. He also plays in pick-up games at Dundee Park District softball fields twice a week.
“The camaraderie is great,” he remarked. “It’s competitive. I was in a tournament in Elgin when I found out about it. They had an open house in 2004 and my wife and I took a ride up to Sun City and we fell in love with the place.”
Barrett is in his 19th season playing 16-inch softball for the Monarchs. It is a team which traces its history to the time when teams were organized by Sun City neighborhoods.
“We were from one of the new Neighborhoods, and were called the “Home Boys”, but we later switched to Monarchs,” Barrett said. “I played third base for 10 years then first base for the last nine. For many years, we were a terrible team but then we had a couple of new players come in to play shortstop and short-center, Don Grex and Rich Pearl, and we won the championship two years in a row. That made all the difference.”
Barrett loves the atmosphere at Veterans Memorial Park.
“I thoroughly enjoy the experience, whether I’m in the dugout or in the field,” Barrett said. “It’s a lot of fun. I’m a significant talker. I can talk to the umpire, the runner or the other team in the dugout.”
Barrett grew up in Chicago, playing prep basketball and then for one year at DePaul University. When he was inn his 20s, he played 16-inch softball, the glove-less version.
“That was some serious softball,” he said.
