Back at full strength, the Balloonatics returned to dominance Thursday, Aug. 25, atop the Sedona Adult Softball League, shutting out second-place Red Rocks Rotary.
The Balloonatics had been without head coach Larry Perry, who’d been suspended two games after a fight during a game against A Day in the West.
The 10-0 win over Rotary, combined with an 11-8 triumph over the Mighty Ducks of L’Auberge de Sedona in the second game of their doubleheader, secured the Balloonatics a bye to the semifinals as the top seed in the league, presented by the Sedona Parks and Recreation Department.
“They are a tough team,” said Nick Hastings, Rotary head coach. “We look forward to the challenge of playing them again in the playoffs.”
Contrary to postseasons past in which the playoffs would be stretched out over two to three weeks, seven league teams will square off in a one-night, winner-take-all tournament Thursday, Sept. 1, at Posse Grounds Park.
The surprise second seed will be head coach Santana Alvarado’s Dirty Rats, who improved to 9-4 in the final regular-season standings after a 12-11 slugfest over The Other Team.
In the first round at 6 p.m., The Dirty Rats will start the night with a rematch against the seventh-seeded The Other Team, under head coach Geoffrey Messer, who also fell, 10-2, to Rokzoo Bucket List.
That win lifted Rokzoo, under head coach Sonny Rodriguez and pitcher Don Bauder, to a third seed and a matchup against defending A Day in the West, which fell to sixth place to end the regular season after a 5-4 loss to the Mighty Ducks of L’Auberge de Sedona.
A Day in the West, under head coach Pedro Ortega, had been without starting pitcher Jason Stewart, who had been suspended with Perry for his involvement in the altercation.
L’Auberge will face Rotary, the fourth seed in the playoffs.
Decimated by injuries and pre-planned vacations, the Paperboys of the Sedona Red Rock News decided not only to forfeit their 8:45 p.m. game with Bucket List last week, but a postseason berth as the bottom seed as well.
Enchantment Resort also canceled the remainder of its schedule as well as playoff participation due to lack of players.
For the full playoff schedule, please see the Wednesday, Aug. 31, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.
