The longtime friends and rivals played hard. Brian Smokey, Tony Nelson and Jake Bohan delivered the home runs. Leah Holland, Colbey Wanner and Alyssa Smokey crushed the ball all night. The Lovelock Softball Association hosted its championship game at McDougal Memorial Park on Friday night.
Ultimately, Thick N Wild, the defending league champs, beat the Swingers (18-14) in seven innings. Tony Nelson pitched for the Swingers. Tim Rhodes recorded the win for Thick N Wild.
It wasn’t the first time the teams clashed, and it won’t be the last. Last year, Thick N Wild grabbed the title from the Swingers, (then known as Jim’s Point S) with a final score of 17-11.
Jim’s Point S (the Swingers) won the league championship the summer of 2018 when Trevor and Daphne Gurley started the club. The Gurleys moved away, and Jared Jensen took over last year. He also plays the outfield for the Swingers. The Sandlot Junkies, Outkast, Brew Crew, Swamp Donkeys, Thunder Ducks and Weekend Warriors round out the league.
Many of the players have been with the coed club from the start. It’s open to everyone age 16 and over. High school students, recent grads and retirees find common ground on the softball fields.
“Our biggest challenge this year was the coronavirus,” said Jensen. “Some teams skidded to the end of the season due to players having to quit for various reasons. We appreciated those possibly exposed to COVID staying away until they got the green light.”
“This was a competitive season,” he added. “We saw teams battle all summer with few blowouts.” He estimates that 80 to 100 athletes showed up to play. Each of the teams played nearly a dozen games, gaining experience with each swing of the bat. More importantly, they had fun and reduced stress, supporting each other through wins and losses.
“We’re already looking forward to next year,” said Jensen.
