407BBQ: Back row (left to right): Jay Parker, Joe LeCroy, Tom Gunther, Steve Wetenkamp, David Popejoy,
Peter Gasser, Johnnie Blecher; front row (left to right): Jerry Bennett, Charlie Dobson, Steve Courtney, Kelly Wissick, Tom Neagli (manager), and Rhonda Gunther
Rosemary Myers-Neagli
Several sports betting outlets (sportsgamblingpodcast.com) have declared 2023 as the “Year of the Underdogs.” We witnessed the earliest exit ever for the four-time U.S. Women’s Soccer champions and the first time a European nation (8th ranked Spain) won the Women’s World Cup title since 2007. Our own Texas Rangers earned a playoff “wild card” spot, after winning only 90 regular season games, to rally for the Rangers’ first World Series pennant. Who would have bet on this team last spring? Along with “underdogs” comes a year of “firsts.” Our RR softball Field of Dreams ended 2023 with its share of both.
During 2023, RR softball fielded three traveling tournament teams for the first time (65+AA, 70+AA, and 75+AA). The 65+AA and 75+AA teams each secured the Champions of Texas title, having some teams scratching their heads about the origin of our players. In September the 75+AA team traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada, to compete in their first World Senior Softball Championships. It took seven years for them to “show their stuff,” and these first-timers captured fifth place—not too bad!
After rain delays, the 2023 RR Spring Coed Championships were won by fifth-placed Home Tint (first-time Manager John McNemar and Assistant Stan Isbell). Just like in the spring, the 2023 Fall Coed Championship was delayed by one week due to much-needed rain. Even though the league’s first-place seeded team Rodney Landscape (Manager Steve Tafoya and Assistant Becky Milby) was playing the last-place 407BBQ (Manager Tom Neagli and Assistant Steve Courtney), the fans crowded both sides of the field. You see those 407BBQ underdogs had finally discovered their batting, leading to a championship appearance. One softball game reporter, Clyde Ziegler, counted at least 137 cheering fans. Both teams were (as Tom Neagli described) “knocking the laces off the ball.” During the final inning, Rodney Landscape was able to reign victorious, the winning score 20 to 19. A valiant effort by the underdogs, and both teams “gave it their all.” Congratulations to the Spring Coed Champs, Home Tint, and to the Fall Coed champs, Rodney Landscape.
What makes our Field of Dreams successful and the teams successful is volunteers! Every year elections are held to select a very dedicated and hard-working softball board. Thank you, Sean Curry, Gary Warrick, Sue Kamrath, Ty Nelson, Mike Braam, Debbie Hinson, Jerry Hinson, and Jerry Bennett. Ron Schwertner’s second job, besides being a phenomenal player, is his dedication to work and leading his volunteers to keeping our softball field described by visitors as one of the best in North Texas. Bob Riley coordinates the press box crews, which consists of our entertaining announcers, running the scoreboard, and keeping the score books. Gary Warrick coordinates all those “blue shirts” for every game—the umpires. Dale Hill spends time recruiting reporters who summarize every game played on the Field of Dreams. But the best, in my opinion, is Sue Kamrath whose team of volunteers arrive hours before a championship game to make all those yummy brats, chips, and an assortment of sweets and beverages. We are well fed!
Thank you, dedicated spouses, fans, and players. I wonder what underdogs and firsts 2024 will bring? From everyone associated with RR softball, Happy Holidays, Robson Ranch!