League Champs

The Sugar Freaks defeated Ben Byrd Construction 18-11 in the final game of a three-day, 10-team tournament to cap off the Moab City Recreation Adult Coed softball season as league champions.

The Sugar Freaks, captained by Dusty Steele, lost only two games during the regular season, one of which was via forfeit, Steele said, earning one of six byes into the quarterfinals. From there, they defeated Arrowheads on Thursday, July 30, in the quarterfinals, then took down Rock Stars on Monday, August 3, in the semifinals to set up a showdown with last year’s champion, Ben Byrd Construction.

With strong defense and pitching, Steele said, the Sugar Freaks were able to stifle the former champs’ bid for a repeat on the way to an 18-11 victory.

“(Ben Byrd Construction) does a good job of putting the ball in play,” he said. “We’re just a good defensive team and we were able to hold down their (rallies).”

Ben Byrd Construction was one of several teams in the league, in which the rules dictate at least four girls must bat and play the field for each team, capable of hitting a home run on almost any pitch floated to the plate. In the title game, however, Sugar Freaks pitcher Keith Reidhead was able to avoid the long ball as he induced several pop-up and fly-ball outs.

“Keith (Reidhead) did a good job of giving them pitches to hit, but not good pitches to hit,” Steele said.

Members of the Sugar Freaks were males Steele, Reidhead, Klint York, Shay Walker, Aaron Lewis, Trace Wells, Stephen Vaccaro and Carter Lloyd; and females Jamie Reidhead, Lexy Walker, Katherine Lloyd, Ashley Steele, Torrie Lopez and Sarah Shea. For their victory, they were awarded a box of brand new softballs, restaurant gift cards and the choice of either a brand new softball bat or entry into an all-night tournament in Monticello this weekend. They chose the new bat, unable to play in the all-nighter on short notice.

For second place, Ben Byrd Construction also got a box of brand new softballs as well as restaurant gift cards. For third place, the Branding Iron team was also awarded a box of softballs, and for fourth place, Twisted Jeeps was awarded frozen turkey and Gatorade. The Branding Iron defeated Twisted Jeeps 14-12 in the third-place game, which took place at the same time as the title game on a separate field within the Center Street Ballpark.

Moab City Recreation director Chad Wright enjoyed his first season of coed softball in Moab, calling it the best coed season he has been a part of.

“Overall it’s been a great season,” he said. “There’s just such a great sense of community in the stands and great sportsmanship between teams.”

“It’s fun playing under the lights,” he said. “ A lot of these guys play on the same teams in fast pitch and then face each other in coed. People know each other – it’s just a great gathering place.”

Sportsmanship, as well as organization, were key improvements made to the program in its first year under Wright.

“We tightened up the organization and the rules, and that led to a far more fun and friendly game,” Wright said.

Dusty Steele credited Wright with creating a better environment for the game.

“Chad had everything organized and stayed on top of it, made it clear that there wouldn’t be any nonsense,” he said. “We were able to just show up and play, and that’s what it’s all about.

“We had a lot of fun playing,” he said. “We appreciate all the other teams for having good sportsmanship. It makes the game a lot more fun.”

Sugar Freaks take down Ben Byrd Construction, 18-11, to cap off coed softball season

Chad had everything organized and stayed on top of it, made it clear that there wouldn’t be any nonsense. We were able to just show up and play, and that’s what it’s all about.

Author: Tim Chappell

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