Camp Hilby Champs (left to right): Ernie Flores, Jerry Smith, Joe Commisto (kneeling), Dennis Henderson, Mgr. Mike Gloyd, Brad Wendt, Dennis Dalton, Bobby Farmer, and Rick Oien; not pictured: Bob Reed and Bob Wicks (photo by Larry Wolfe)
Larry Wolfe
After the regular Winter Session ended, a seeded double-elimination tournament was held at the Field of Dreams before large crowds of fans. In Game 1 in the Sun Division bracket, the Redeemed Team, managed by Sam Giordano, edged Camp Hilby, managed by Mike Gloyd, by a 21-19 score. In a well-balanced attack, Dave Platt and Dan Melosi both went 4 for 5 with a homerun for the Redeemers. Dennis Henderson added two long balls. Brad Wendt had a perfect 5 for 5 game for the Campers.
In the second match-up between the number one-seeded Spooner Physical Therapy team, managed by Jon Hendrikse, and the fourth-seeded Wolfe & Associate club, managed by Ron Carmichael, the Therapists scored five runs in the final inning to nip the Wolves 15-14. Brian Denham, Randy Neumann, and Chuck Schaan each had three hits for the winners, with Denham homering. Ty Christie, Mike Lebet, and George Siegele “went yard” for the losers.
On the second day of the tourney, the hard-luck Wolves lost another heartbreaker when the Camp Hilby team scored a whopping 14 (yes, 14!) runs in the final inning for a 26-25 victory. Brad Wendt led the Campers’ attack, going four for five with a long ball. George Siegele and Tom Stephens both went four for five for the Wolves, with Siegele homering twice. Stephens and Mike Lebet also homered.
Spooner PT topped the Redeemed Team 22-16 in Game 4. Marty Hobby smashed four homers for the winning Therapists. (Side notes: I can’t recall another four-homer game in Sun Lakes softball history, but maybe there were others? Anyhow, it’s certainly a rare feat. There have only been 18 four-homer players in the major leagues since 1894!) Dan Melosi went five for five with a homer for the Redeemers.
On the final day of the tournament, the Redeemers were forced to forfeit their game due to lack of players due to injuries. That meant that the Camp Hilby team would face the number one-seeded Spooner PT in the championship game. In an exciting final, the Campers outlasted the Therapists 14-13, with Bobby Reed going five for five for the champs and Bobby Farmer adding a homer. Mike Lebet led the Therapists’ attack with two homers, a single, walk, and sac fly.
Seven players hit .800 or over for the tourney, led by Marty Hobby’s perfect 1.000. Dan Melosi hit .909 and was followed by Phil Gutterman and Mike Lebet (both at .889), Brad Wendt (.882), Dennis Dalton (.810), and Kim Whitney (.800). Hobby and Melosi led in homers with four each.
Congrats to Manager Gloyd and his Camp Hilby squad!