The Adult Summer Softball League kicked off in Sedona on Thursday, June 6. For A Day in the West, it was business as usual. The team improved to 1-0 on the year after defeating the Slapnut Magoos 9-7.
“I thought it went well, we started out kind of slow but eventually we started picking up runs here and there,” A Day in the West captain Pedro Ortega said. “Eventually, we got our timing down and that helped propel us to victory.
For Ortega, the team concept is his favorite aspect of softball.
“You must be willing to do sacrifice for your team and our guys are always up for the task,” Ortega said. “It is also a great hour of friendship and all those things for the team.”
A Day in the West has their eyes on the prize this year as they believe a title run is in the cards.
“Our defense is a little better than last year, so I think we have a really good chance this year,” Ortega said. “I think we have a chance to do well and we are off to a good start after our first game.”
While the Slapnut Magoos fall to 0-1, they believe the loss is a blip on the radar.
“We were rusty, but we’ll pull together as we get into the groove of the season,” Slapnut Magoos centerfielder Jesse Timm said. “I think we will do fine. A lot of these guys haven’t played in a few years, so we’ll start getting back into it.”
Timm had previously played in a Phoenix softball league over the last few years before returning to Sedona.
“I didn’t play [here] last year, but I actually played on A Day in the West back in the day,” Timm said. “I took last season off then I jumped on this team to give it a little change.”
For Timm, softball is an opportunity to let the kid in him out.
“I encourage everyone to just come out here as you get to have fun and play ball,” Timm said. “Act like you’re a little kid, just c’mon out here, get all dirty and play.”
Slapnut Magoos second basemen Charles Timm wasted no time hitting his first home run of the season on Thursday over the center field fence.
“I have never hit one out of the park up here,” Timm said. “This is my first time playing up here in a few years as I typically play tournament ball in Phoenix.”
“I do not usually play up here in the league but it felt great,” he added.
For Timm, the league is more about having a good time rather than competing.
“Having a good time is all that this time is here for,” he said. “Nobody is going pro from this group.”
With doubleheaders occurring on a week night, the softball league has the ability to muck up your schedule.
“I come from Cotton-wood so doubleheaders are not too bad, they get our games out of the way,” Timm said. “I’ve got two boys that play sports so it works for me as I am pretty busy the rest of the week.”
While Slapnut Magoo’s may have come up short in their season opener, Timm still likes their chances for the rest of the season.
“We have a pretty good team here so I think we are just getting the first game jitters out,” Timm said. “After we iron out all the kinks, we should be good.”
For some players, swinging a wooden bat was a skill that needed to be relearned.
“We were rusty swing-ing a wood bat,” Timm said. “Most of us play composites so wood is definitely something to get used to again.”
Once Slapnut Magoos gets their groove down, they believe the are a force in the making in the league.
“I 100% believe we can win it all,” Timm said. “We will definitely make it to the championship.”
This is a wood bat league and both men and women are welcome to participate. While teams can be coed, the league will follow ASA Men’s Adult Softball League rules and regulations. There is a maximum of 20 players per team and players must be 16 years of age or older. The fee is $275 per team and $15 per player.
Games run on Thursday evenings at Posse Grounds Park and will run 10 to 12 weeks depending on the number of teams.
Looking to play but don’t have a team to join? Place your name on the pick-up list by calling the Parks and Recreation office at 282-7098 or e-mail your information to sedonarec@ sedonaaz.gov.
The city is seeking scorekeepers and umpires. Visit sedonaaz.gov/jobs
Ivan Leonard can be reached at 282-7795, Ext. 131, or e-mail to ileonard@larsonnewspapers.com
