It was approaching dinner time on a Chamber of Commerce type summer Monday night at Sun City’s Veterans Memorial Field. With apologies to Billy Joel, the regular softball crowd was coming in.
Fans arrived by car, golf cart and a few by bicycles. They watched four Sun City Softball Club 16-inch evening league teams, High Octane, against the Hurricanes and the Capitals and Adjusters square off.
The season is heading toward its All-Star game night, scheduled to be held July 25 with a start at 5:30 p.m. For the 16-inch evening teams, playoffs begin Aug. 11. Players, coaches and spectators shared thoughts on the strengths of one of Sun City’s summer staple events.
One of the softball veterans is Ron Tenggren, who manages the Monarchs squad. He pitched for many years and plays middle infield.
“I have played in the Sun City Softball Club for 20 years,” Tenggren said. “At the time I joined most of the teams were primarily made up of residents from separate neighborhoods. That changed over the years. Teams now contain members from all the neighborhoods. We (the Monarchs) have win two championships in the past three years, before that we were usually in the bottom of the standings.”
“As in the case with so many of the clubs and activities in Sun City, lasting friendships are made with teammates and opponents alike,” Tenggren said. “It is remarkable how many people you meet and establish a relationship with. Support from our fans and former players remains high.”
Bob Lodewyck, manager of High Octane, has been part of the league for 18 years. His squad fell to the Hurricanes, but it was close, 6-2.
“It’s the camaraderie, and people you meet,” Lodwyck said. “I’ve played shortstop, short center and now first base.”
“I just like to play softball,” Joe Mastrangelo of High Octane said. “I signed up when I moved to Sun City in 2012. “It was 15 or 16 years since I had played.”
Manager of the Hurricanes is Glenn Groebli, who also manages a team in the 12-inch league.
“It’s good to see our guys get more hits and we fielded superb,” Groebli said.
Sally Papak plays catcher and hits well for the squad.
“She is a good, heads-up ballplayer and she fields well,” Groebli said.
Les Muret watched both games on this Monday, but was especially interested in the Capitals, who won 10-5 over the Adjusters.
“I like to watch them play softball,” Muret said. “We had a good Capitals team that won the championship three straight years and we have good players.”
Scott Phillips handles second base duties for the Capitals.
“You have to have good concentration and wait for the right pitch,” Phillips said.
The Capitals, 5-5 record, were looking forward to a game with league-leading Lumberjacks, 8-2 record, later that week.
Another league is a four team 16-inch league that plays on Thursday mornings.
Meanwhile on Wednesdays, a small group of four men’s softball teams is carrying on a 20-year run of 12-inch softball. The Holy Molars, Centurions, Mobilizers and Agents teams do battle. Several players have been at the softball diamond for years while others are on multiple 16-inch teams to go along with the 12-inch version. One Wednesday, it was the Holy Molars and the Agents clash.
Frank Yacono, 82 years young and the elder statesman, was the starting pitcher for the Holy Molars. He also coached the winning Capitals squad.
“God willing, I’ll play until I can’t play anymore,” Yacono, who is also co-manager, said before the clash with the Agents. “I’ve always pitched, for the last 15 years.”
Yacono did get one at-bat this game, and had some good-natured ribbing with an opponent. “He can’t hit it out of the infield,” the foe shouted. “I’ll hit it over your head,” the pitcher countered.
Jeff Williams had a good game Wednesday, as he reached base safely each time up as the Holy Molars beat the Agents and had another multi-base reach game for the Capitals.
“I play softball here and in Arizona over the winter,” Williams said. “I play in both 12-inch and 16-inch teams here, but in Arizona, it’s only 12-inch softball,” Williams, the team’s shortstop, said. “I played 150 games in Arizona this winter, four times a day.”
The Agents’ lead-off man, Tim Barth, had a good game as well with a couple of hits.
“I just love living in Sun City; it’s the greatest place in the world, and guys here all really want to play softball,” Barth said.
Holy Molars (4-2 record) player Greg Allen echoed those comments. He’s on two 16-inch softball teams, as well as the 12-inch league team.
