Co-ed teams swing into summer softball season

 

Summer is almost here, and that means it’s time for locals to relive their glory days on the diamond through Gunnison’s co-ed softball league. Balls will be launched and spectacular plays will be made over the course of league play.

Spectators and players alike may think they know who will win it all. In fact, Ol’ Miner has exhibited dominance in recent years. However, four teams will try to dethrone the powerhouse program.

The Times recently caught up with each team to get an inside look at how teams may fare this summer.

Ol’ Miner: Back and stronger

than ever

Ol’ Miner — a team that has imposed its will on the co-ed softball league for years — will once again look to defend its title.

While the Times wasn’t able to catch up with manager Janine Pleau, not much has changed. Every team is gunning for Ol’ Miner — hoping someone will dethrone them, similar to the Golden State Warriors.

That will be a hard task, however, as multiple managers note that a key to Ol’ Miner’s success is the dominant play from women on the team.

Ol’ Miner scored an average 20 runs per game last season, while only giving up nine runs. Stopping Ol’ Miner will be like stopping a train traveling at full speed — in other words, near impossible.

Shondeck Financial:

Confidence higher than ever

If you’re not first, or second, you’re last. Shondeck Financial has fallen short of toppling Ol’ Miner the last couple summers. As a result, they decided to tweak the Ricky Bobby motto.

Shondeck finished third last season. But that hasn’t fazed them from believing they have a chance to win.

When you have the best players in summer league on your team, according to manager Lauren Shondeck, it is not shocking that their confidence level is high. However, Shondeck noted the team is missing one key piece — “a key female player with a softball background.”

Still, Shondeck believes they have a good shot at finishing second this summer.

JH Property Services:

Looking to make a splash

The new kids on the block this year — JH Property Services — might get you to believe they lack confidence, given their expectations: “Come hoping to win, but expect to lose.”

However, their game shouldn’t be taken lightly, since a lot of the players on the team have played with Mike Cribari —Ol’ Miner’s star player.

If JH Property Services picked up any winning ways from Cribari, they could become a Cinderella team to look out for when tournament play kicks off.

JH Property Services will rely on five players this summer to help them accomplish their goal of finishing third.

Jordan Herrera (sponsor), Bruce Hillis, Jessica Willis, Adam Cris, and Shayla Wilson will be tasked with leading the team to victory. Hillis — coming from Lake City — will have the biggest burden of them all on the mound for JH Property Services. He will need to pitch like the Houston Astros’ Justin Verlander for the team to have a chance.

Still, manager Willis noted, “It takes a whole team to win.”

Pie Slammers: No ‘I’ in team.

From Powerslams to Pie Slammers. Hopefully they will be slamming home runs with the new name and new and improved roster this season.

“We definitely have a better team than in past years,” said manager Blake Eastman.

Last summer, the team formerly known as the Powerslams pulled off a spectacular impersonation of the Cleveland Browns — failing to win a single game.

The Pie Slammers have ditched their old motto — “If only we could catch” — and will focus more on having fun, blowing off some steam and winning as many games as possible.

With the focus shifted and the Pie Slammers looking to actually compete this year, they may take some teams by surprise.

The Pie Slammers will be leaning on one another, as manager Eastman knows that it will take a team effort.

“We need everyone to show up and play well if we want a shot at winning games,” stated Eastman.

Hi Country Floors: New

name, same expectations

Formally known as Leanne Grace, Hi Country Floors finished second once again last year to Ol’ Miner, getting destroyed in back-to-back games in the championship.

That may have prompted Hi Country Floors to change their motto: “Score more runs than the opposing opponent.”

Shondeck may want to change their motto too — “If you’re not first, second or third you’re last” — because Hi Country Floors doesn’t consider that team a threat to challenge them for second.

“Expectations are to eliminate Shondeck in the playoffs again and face Ol’ Miner and put ourselves in a position to win,” said Manager Kory Platt.

Andy Thielen, Maggie Thielen and Sydney Frias are three new additions and the team has high expectations for them.

“I’m counting on them to do what they do and bring it every game,” Platt said.

Co-ed softball returns to action today, as Hi Country Floors takes on the Pie Slammers at 6:30 p.m. at Jorgensen Park, with Ol’ Miner taking on JH Property Services at 7:45 p.m.

(Brandon Warr can be reached at 970.641.1414 or brandon@gunnisontimes.com .)