Johnny Blecher and Bill Johansson
Spring is just around the corner, and the Robson Ranch Softball Association (RRSA) has completed the registration process and filled rosters for seven teams. These teams will compete in the 2016 Spring season here at the Robson Ranch Field of Dreams. The crack (ping?) of the bat can already be heard around the field where the teams have begun practicing for the upcoming season, which begins March 28.
The new parking area and scorer’s booth represent a couple of the amenities added since last fall. The scorer’s booth is particularly noticeable as it stands behind the backstop and stretches up to give our announcers, scoreboard operators and scorekeepers a birds-eye view of the action on the field. If you haven’t been out to one of our games, you are truly missing one of the more exciting activities at the Ranch.
Prior to the season Robson Rancher Paul Dorwaldt brought his “Texas Elite” softball team to play a representative team from Robson Ranch at our Field of Dreams. The weather didn’t cooperate with some light drizzle, but it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the players from either team.
The Texas Elite were coming off back to back fifth place finishes in the last two years SSUSA Over-50 National Softball Tournament, and they didn’t disappoint as they quickly stamped their signature on this game. Paul Dorwaldt, shortstop Billy Ireland and second baseman Jerry Wicks all hit round trippers to show the home town folks how it’s done. Billy Ireland, “the human vacuum” put on a “clinic” at shortstop and shut down all action going through the left side of the infield.
It wasn’t all hard hit “rockets” and runs from Texas Elite as our Ranchers showed a little game and scored a few runs themselves while holding the guests under the five-run scoring per inning limit for several innings. Brad Killingsworth and Carl Caruso did a great job pitching for Robson with Linda Caron guiding their efforts from the behind the plate.
Although a little muddy and wet it was a great time for all. Robson softballers got to see how softball is played at the highest levels, and the Texas Elite witnessed just how much fun softball can be regardless of the score.
As always the field was in great shape thanks to Mike Conley and his maintenance team and umpires: Dean French, Bob Collins and Bill Rauhauser; and Marti Conley on the scoreboard gave it all a “feel” of big league ball.
There were lots of hits, laughs and, best of all, no injuries.