Gary Alexander of the Young Home Team gets ready to swing away in a recent Lakes Division game as umpire Joe Byrne looks on.
Larry Wolfe
There must be something about the cooler weather that’s stimulating a deluge of record-breaking offensive performances in our fall softball season. On Nov. 10 there were 171 runs scored in our two doubleheaders. That’s an average of nearly 43 runs per game! In game one that day, the Spooner PT squad scored 18 runs in the top of the seventh inning, including back-to-back-to-back homers by Brian Denham, Mike Lebet, and Mark McKinnon, to annihilate Camp Hilby 35-14. Lebet and Thom Stephens both went 6 for 6. Later that day, Skyview Digital Media beat A-1 Golf Carts 29-18. Jay Yoakum homered twice, while speedy Frank Rouse circled the bases for an inside-the-park homer. Both Dave Kratz and Mike Wolfe had perfect 5 for 5 days at the plate.
Then on Nov. 30 the Redeemed Team Realtors and Camp Hilby combined to score 96 runs in a twin bill. An incredible total of 16 home runs were hit in those two contests (four by Marty Hobby, three each by George Siegele and Dan Melosi, and two each by Dennis Henderson, Mike Lebet, and Greg Lemmon). It was definitely not a pitchers dual! More like a Home Run Derby!
With less than two weeks left in the fall sessions, Manager Dave Kratz’ Skyview Digital Media team was leading the Lakes Division with a 10-6 record. The Top Five batters at the press deadline were Doug Warwick (.756), Jay Yoakum (.712), Dave Kratz (.712), Mike Willits (.702), and Charlie Alley (.700). Frank Rouse was leading in doubles with 10. Charlie Alley was the triples’ leader with four, while Jay Yoakum led in homers with two.
With four games remaining, Manager Joe Commisto’s Spooner PT squad had clinched the Sun Division title with a gaudy 13-3 record. George Siegele was leading the division with an .843 average, followed by Mike Lebet (.823), Brian Denham (.810), Thom Stephens (.746), and Jon Hendrikse (.733). Siegele was also the home run leader with 20. Kurt Carmichael was leading in doubles with 15, while brother Ron Carmichael led in three-baggers with four.
Final standings and stats for the fall sessions will be in next month’s Splash; however, if the suspense is too much to bear, go to the Stats page on our website, www.sunlakessoftball.com.
We welcome a new advertising sponsor this month: Re-Bath & Kitchens. The company, which provides complete kitchen and bathroom remodeling, has been providing high-quality services in the Greater Phoenix area for over 40 years. Go to the Sponsors page on our website for links to their website and to all our advertising and team sponsors.
After our holiday break, the winter season will start on Jan. 2. We wish all our players and fans a happy and healthy 2024!