From one of the Spring Season’s last games: batter Frank Rouse, catcher Larry Maggerd, and umpire Ken Brenden (Courtesy of Image Makers Photoshop)
Larry Wolfe
We finally heard those two words we’ve been waiting to hear for months: “Play Ball!” After our Spring Season was shut down in mid-March due to COVID-19, and our summer season was canceled in its entirety, it was great to get the competitive juices flowing again! Our fall season opened on Oct. 27 and is now in full swing with league games on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. We’ve instituted health and safety rules and protocols to keep everyone safe while the pandemic continues. Spectators are welcome at the field, but must abide by our safety rules, including wearing masks at all times and practicing physical distancing. We’ve also staggered game times to keep the number of players at the field at any time at an absolute minimum.
We have eight teams, with four teams in each of the Sun and Lakes Divisions. This year’s team sponsors are A-1 Golf Carts, Brenden Financial Planning, Core Photography, Farmers Insurance (Frank Margiotta Agency), Jim Leckner’s Realty Company, Spooner Physical Therapy, Wolfe & Associates, and the Young Team Realtors. We appreciate the support of all of these local companies.
The Field of Dreams is also open for recreational play on non-league days, except for Sundays. To find out more about our programs and to read all the latest news, go to our website at www.sunlakessoftball.com.
We thank the following three companies for renewing their advertising banners at the Field of Dreams:
• The Kolb Team Realtors and Carey Kolb, supporters since 2013;
• Retirement Insurance Specialists (RIS Agency) and owner Justin Bro, advertisers since 2011; and
• Wolfe & Associates, accounting and tax preparation specialists, supporters since 2007.
Go to the Sponsors page on our website for links to all of our advertisers and team sponsors. And remember SOS: support our sponsors!
Did you know: In the 1800s, you (as a base runner) could be put out between the bases by having the ball thrown at and hitting you? Players were resistant when this rule was changed, because they thought it was an important and masculine part of the game. This practice was called “soaking” or “plugging.” In Sun Lakes Senior Softball, we sometimes hit base runners with a throw, but not on purpose!
Next month, we hope to renew our softball player profile series of articles. They were also a casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic.