“It’s a new season,” Travelers 16-inch softball team manager John Pickelman told the squad, gathered at the third base dugout at Veterans Memorial Field.
The second night of the first round of Sun City Softball League 16-inch playoffs was about to begin as the Travelers, seeded third, took on the sixth seed Coyotes Aug. 18. A good-sized crowd filed in to watch the contest, but the Coyotes came away with a 12-8 win. Tourney play for the eight teams, double elimination format, continued the next two weeks, leading up to the best-of-three game championship series September 10 and 11, and if necessary, September 14.
This Tuesday belonged to the orange-clad Coyotes squad, whose backers let out a “howl” with each good result. After a 3-3 tie after one inning, the Coyotes pulled away to a 12-5 lead, then notched the victory over the Travelers. The Coyotes’ Dave Rodjiek had a three-hit game including a three-run home run.
“We had a lot of clutch hits,” Rodjiek said.
“We’re hitting the ball well – we had a two-hour hitting practice Sunday,” manager of the Coyotes, Tom Moore, said.
The Coyotes were 5-11 on the regular season, but advanced with a chance to take on the Lumbarjacks. They clashed with the defending champs in a quarterfinal round game Aug. 27. The Lumbarjacks beat the Monarchs 10-2 in their first round game Aug. 19. The Mustangs and the Adjusters was the other quarterfinal game Aug. 27. Losers of first round games played the next week.
The Lumbarjacks are defending tournament champs, but weren’t overconfident.
“Everyone has been gunning for us all year long,” Lumbarjacks manager Joe Gattone said. “We respect everyone, all the teams are good.”
Also in the first week of post-season play, the Adjusters won over the Capitals, 7-2, to advance to the winners bracket, on Aug. 17. The Mustangs beat the Hurricanes 7-4 on Aug. 19.
Regular season ends
The Lumbarjacks took home the regular season 16-inch Evening League crown as they posted a 14-2 record with a 166-65 difference in runs scored versus the opposition.
The Lumbarjacks, the defending champs, edged the Mustangs’ 13-3 record (158-101 runs scored) for the title.
Other league champions were the Holy Molars winning the Wednesday 12-inch league, with a 7-2 record. The Bucket Listers won the 16-inch Thursday morning league with an 8-0 mark.
Veterans Club game
Sun City residents are welcome to the Seventh Annual Veterans recognition day Sept. 12. A 1 p.m. ceremony precedes the game. The event is organized by the Sun City Veterans Charter Club.
Leagues final standings
The 16-inch evening league final: Lumbarjacks, 14-2; Mustangs, 13-3; Travelers, 10-6; Capitals, 6-10; Coyotes 5-11; Hurricanes, 4-12 and Monarchs, 4-12.
Wednesday 12-inch league final: Holy Molars, 7-2; Mobilizers, 5-3 and Centurions, 0-7.
Thursday 16-inch Morning league final: Bucket Listers, 8-0; Sluggers, 3-4 and Money Bags, 0-7.
