Sun Division Champs: Front (left to right): Jim Leckner, Tim Loeffler, Tom Lorgan, Mark McKinnon and Chuck Myrick. Back (left to right): Rick Oien, Randy Neumann, Gene Grandquist, Billy Kee, Larry Kaufmann and Paul Gayer. (Photo by Core Photography, LLC)
Larry Wolfe
The top-seeded State Farm Insurance team, managed by Ron Carmichael and sponsored by the Ralph Vasquez Agency, hosted the number four seeded Young Realty squad in the opening game of the Sun Division’s Spring tournament. The Realtors were managed by Mike Gloyd and sponsored by Terry & Susan Young. The Insurance Men coasted to an 11-6 win with Manager Carmichael leading the way with three hits, three runs and a long triple.
In the second contest, second-seeded Brenden Financial Planning, managed and sponsored by Ken Brenden, beat the number 3 seeded Real Estate Rustlers, managed by Tom Kasunic and sponsored by Jim Leckner’s Agency. In a well-played game, both teams played errorless ball (which is rare for senior softball!), resulting in an 8-6 win for the Planners. Billy Kee paced the Planners with three hits and three runs, while Dave Lingen had three hits, including two triples, for the Rustlers.
On day two of the three-day tourney, Brenden’s Boys again were victorious, topping the State Farm team by a 13-10 score. In a well-balanced attack, six Planners had three hits each, while Tom Schneider led the State Farm squad with four hits in the losing cause.
The Real Estate Rustlers then eliminated Young Realty in a tie-breaker game. Most of the Rustlers’ runs came from the long ball; Dan Melosi hit three HRs, while Mark McKinnon had two. Tom Kasunic and Dave Lingen chipped in with one each. Mike Otman had a perfect five for five day for the Realtors.
On the final day of play, State Farm came back to eliminate the Rustlers, winning 17-11. Tom Schneider and Mark Rhoten had four hits each to lead the way to victory. Mark McKinnon and Randy Neumann had three each for the losing team.
The championship game was a real slugfest between Brenden’s Boys and State Farm. Brenden’s Financial Planners bested the Insurers by a 21-18 score in a game that featured 64 hits, including five homers and a total of 15 hits for extra bases. Chuck Myrick and Randy Neumann led Brenden’s attack with four hits each, while Doug Freisen and Reyes Gonzales had four each for State Farm.
Congratulations to Ken Brenden and the Financial Planners!