Department Softball in Full Swing
CHECK IT OUT: I heard from Commish Kevin Worrell recently and have spoken to a few managers as well; and, I know that despite the respite in play the week of the Obama visit, softball games have been played almost without a hitch since the weather cleared up. This is a good thing as I would do anything to play this spring, but unfortunately I'm "on the shelf" for the season with a "bad wheel." Well then, kudos to those who are able to play and have been playing. Check out the standings on this same page which is where things stood at the printing of this column. Note that all teams in both divisions will be in the playoffs, so the regular season schedule will feature jockeying for top seeds going into post season play.
As far as some A Division results I heard about recently, I know that TAC won their first game in the last week of April when they handed the Northern Bulldogs their first defeat by a score of 9-8. The game started off with TAC's pitcher Bob Ford getting Northern's lead-off man to strike out swinging in what I heard was a most embarrassing at bat. I won't say any names, but there was really no excuse for this ball player with initials M.T. to bat and eventually play the field the way he did in that game. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, this was a doubleheader and they were able to bounce back in the second game with a 12-9 victory to remain on top of the division at 4-1. Incidentally, Commish Worrell would like to thank TAC's John Greenwood for putting the team back together and reentering them back in the league after a few years off.
Also during the last week of April, the Park Islanders(run by Ed Hunt and Eric Letsch) were able to sweep a doubleheader from Southern Station(managed by Marc Marquez). The scores were 14-1 and 6-3 and now the Islanders are tied with the Bulldogs atop the division. They're doing this despite one of their supposed top players leading the league in swinging strike outs with at least five. I'm not going to mention any names nor even initials, but I believe people around the league have a good idea who it is. Hopefully this ball player will turn things around for the second half of the season.
The other A Division score that I heard about from that same week was the Mission Diablos edging the Bayview Pit Bulls by a score of 13-12. This just goes to show you that Glenn Ortega when running the Diablos just seems to have Erick Solares' number when he manages the Pit Bulls whether it's in championship games or regular season. The Pit Bulls will try to reverse this trend come the second half of the season and into the playoffs.
Speaking of the playoffs, they're supposed to start the week of May 23rd with the championship games scheduled to take place on Thurs. June 2nd. The awards banquet is also taking place on June 2nd in the evening at Ron Dumont's City Forest Lodge on Laguna Honda. Commish Worrell wants those planning to attend to let their team managers know by that last week of May in order to get an accurate head count. I don't have any B Division results at this time, but I do know that UCSF PD screwed up the division by forfeiting games, not paying league fees, and dropping out in week three. Worrell does like to thank the SF CHP's Paul Chestnut though, for putting his team back into the league after a long time away. The season continues.
Softball Tourneys to Note
Besides the Western States Police/Fire Games taking place the second week of June down in Ontario, Ca, the SF Workers Childrens Welfare Fund Tournament is taking place on Sat June 18th at Moscone Playground in the Marina district. This event is taking place to raise funds for abused and neglected children in The City. A co-ed team representing the SFPD will be put together by Glenn Ortega as he always does. They've won the tourney championship the last two years; and, even though it will be asking too much, it would be great if they could somehow "three-peat."
This year's Isaac Espinoza Memorial Softball Tournament will be run by Kevin Worrell and Marc Marquez as usual and will be taking place the weekend of Aug. 27th. The location of the tourney is the Westlake Softball Complex in Daly City so contact either Worrell at Central Station(nights) or Marquez at Southern Station(also nights) if you want to enter a team.
This and That
This year's SF Police Basketball League Banquet will have already taken place on Wed. May 4th by the time this reaches you-- it's scheduled to be at Izzy's Steak House on Steiner St. in the Marina district. It was set-up by Commish Steve Coleman(HOJ) who did a great job running the league as usual. Hopefully we'll have pics and award announcements from that night in next month's Journal sports section.
The Emerald Society(BAYLEES) will be having their annual golf tourney on Mon. Sept.19th at the Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City, It's going to be run by Brian Philpott(TTF) and Ed Carew(Central Station) with a noon check in time and a 195.00 entry fee. Start saving your money and getting your foursome together as this is a very fun and popular event.
I finally want to dedicate this month's column to my friend and comrade Mark Lundin(Park Station) who recently retired from the SFPD Specialist Team after 24 years of dedicated service. He was an excellent insructor who went to many outside trainings over the years to bring what he could back to the unit to make them one of the best in the country. I was lucky enough to be a member of the Specialist Team for 17 of those 24 years and I am a much better police officer, shooter, and firearms instructor because of my association with him. Congrats to Mark Lundin on his retirement from the team-- Spec 1 will always be remembered.
That's all for now....So See Ya next month.............
