Clyde Ziegler
The Grand Finale of the spring softball season was just that – a grand finale. Billed as the Sponsors Appreciation and Championship Game Day, it was a day to remember.
Attendance was through the roof. All five of our team sponsors and twenty of our banner sponsors were present along with their families. The Robson Ranch community turned out in droves. All in all, more than 250 people participated in this Grand Finale Day. And they experienced something special indeed.
We started the day off with free breakfast tacos and donuts for breakfast. Over 100 tacos and 60 donuts were consumed that morning as we watched one of the most entertaining softball games of the year. It was a friendly game between members of our Seniors League and our Women’s League. This friendly match-up began with Pastor Ed Jones of the Fellowship at the Ranch Church delivering the invocation. After the playing of the national anthem, both teams shook hands, as is the custom here at Robson Ranch. Representatives from sponsors Eagle Eye Care, Karen Thomas Realtor, ProScapes, Quick Roofing and Rock Steady Boxing threw out the first pitch and the friendly game was underway. After seven entertaining innings, the final score was Seniors 6 runs, Women 6 runs – a tie ball game. There were plenty of smiles and hugs after that game.
Afterwards, all 25 of the sponsors in attendance were escorted onto the field and publicly thanked for support of softball here at Robson Ranch. We couldn’t thank them enough.
Meanwhile, our many volunteers were grilling bratwurst and hot dogs as fast as they could to feed the many fans and sponsors in attendance. Our volunteers were awesome, making it such a special day for Robson Ranch.
Back on the field, it was time for the championship game of the Co-Ed league between the undefeated RBI’s and the number two seed, BSB’s. Kristina McDonald, a granddaughter of Robson Ranch residents, sang a beautiful acapella version of the national anthem, and then resident Joel Jepson and his son, Alex, conducted a breath-taking flyover.
The stage was set for the championship game. After the ceremonial first pitch by grandchildren of Robson Ranch residents, it was time to “play ball!”
If you had scripted a championship game to conclude a season, you could not have come close to what actually happened. The undefeated RBI’s were clearly favored, but the BSB’s came to spring an upset, scoring early and often, and built up a 14-10 lead going into the bottom of the 7th and final inning. Fate was on the side of the RBI’s, though, as they scored five runs, the last with two outs, to walk off the field as champions.
It was a wonderful day for everyone. This day confirmed to our community that Robson Ranch is a wonderful place to live and to our sponsors that there is no better place to reach potential customers than the Field of Dreams and Robson Ranch softball.