Darkness was coming fast when the Lumbarjacks took their 11th inning swings against the Monarchs in the Sun City Softball Club’s 16-inch championship series.
The season concluded with 90 minutes of intense softball and a 6-3 Lumbarjacks’ comeback triumph for the title over the Monarchs at Veterans Memorial Field Sept. 3.
Also winning league championships were the Holy Molars in the 12-inch Wednesday evening league and the Sluggers in the Thursday morning 16-inch league.
“Congrats to the Lumbarjacks on the season and tournament championship,” Sun City Softball Club President Chuck Hund said. “The tournament featured some great games that were enjoyed by everyone.”
On championship night, for the 16-inch evening loop, the Lumbarjacks, who had a 13-3 regular season, trailed 2-0 facing their final outs in the ninth inning. The Monarchs’ Don Grax had just hit a home run.
But the Lumbarjacks scored twice for the 2-2 tie after nine. Starting the innings with a runner on second, both teams scored a run in the 10th. The Lumbarjacks used their team speed to take the lead on singles and added two more insurance runs. Defense played a key role, too, as a second Monarchs’ run was prevented with a tag of a runner at third base.
“This is my 20th year on the team, and it is so close,” winning pitcher Don Wickersham said.
Roy Wickersham concentrates before throwing a pitch for the Lumbarjacks in the win over the Monarchs for the Sun City Softball Club championship.
Not only did Wickersham throw a complete game, outdueling Monarchs’ hurler Ron Teegan who pitched an eight-inning shutout, but he had support from relatives in “Wick” t-shirts. Also, his grandson, Cole, began his high school football career at Huntley High School.
“My dad, Web, is in the 16-inch fast-pitch Illinois Hall of Fame,” Wickerham noted before the game.
“Everyone contributed, especially the bottom of the order,” Lumbarjacks manager Joe Gattone said.
The champs had downed the Monarchs 4-2 Sept. 2 in the first game of the best-of-three series.
Lumbarjacks’ team members are: Fred Dreyden, Wickersham, Jeff Spiller, Roger Lipes, Dan Robinson, Joe Gattone, Bill Russell, Drew Cantana, Rob Bostrom, Bob Minaulli, Jim Powers, Chuck Martin, Doug Jenks, Pete Kiolbasa, Bill Klinger and Tom Nole. Some players played in multiple leagues.
The Lumbarjacks’ other tournament wins were a 10-8 decision over the Travelers and a 10-4 win over the Hurricanes, gaining revenge for an opening round loss.
The Lumbarjacks weren’t the only 16-inch squad to win a championship.
A league was also held on Thursday mornings, with the Sluggers squad winning the title with a 5-2 record. Team members were: Jim Cook, Vito Baningo, George Goodhue, Paul Thompson, Joe Nowak, Don Grex and Jim Zitto. And, Sam Gustafson, Joe Mastranglo, Jim Virovec, Alex Schank, Jim Suerth, Jeff Roche and Scott Phillips.
Holy Molars win title
The Holy Molars won the 12-inch softball crown in the Wednesday evening league with a 6-1 record in the four-team league. Team members were: Jim Cook, Vito Bongingo, George Goodhue, Paul Thompson, Joe Nowak, Don Grax, Jim Zito, Sam Gustafson, Joe Mastrangelo, Jim Virovec, Alex Schank, Jim Seuth, Jeff Rouse and Scott Phillips.
“We had a good team,” manager Groebli said. “We won it last year and returned with basically the same team so we thought we would do it again. We had great defense.”
Williams, the shortstop and Thompson, at third base, led the offense while Yokono handled much of the pitching.
The players on the 12-inch softball teams hope their version of the sport comes back next spring. “We have had three, four and five teams,” Groebli said.
Hund annnounced three local organizations, Grafton Food Pantry, Home of the Sparrow and Pathway to Hope, will share in the $2,000 raised at a hot dog feed and 50-50 raffle Sept. 2 and the All-Star Game.
SC residents and softball league players enjoyed a pick-up game night Sept. 10.
The memories will have to suffice from now to next May, and a new season begins.
