Slow pitch coming on fast

SUN CITY — In early April every year, a large gathering takes place at Eakin Fields in Sun City.

Various parts of the group call themselves the Dirt Bags, Holy Molars, Adjusters, and Lumbarjacks.

Adjusters outfielder John Toth, N.21, hits ground balls to infielders at an early practice session on Eakin Fields. (Photo by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)

No, it’s not a bunch of weird rock bands, it’s the annual beginning of the slow-pitch softball season at Sun City. In the next several months, nearly 230 games will be played there on a beautifully landscaped field surrounded by one of the largest subdivisions in the northwest suburbs.

The Sun City Softball Club has grown into one of the largest and most entertaining organizations in the senior community. This coming Friday, more than 228 players will gather for their annual membership meeting at Drendel Hall in Prairie Lodge. Started in 1999 by a group of players, the club played its games for a while in Dyche Park in Huntley until construction of Eakin Field was completed by Del Webb. Ed Solger was the group’s first President, and Bob Kennedy takes over this spring as the group’s fourth executive.

Because most Sun City residents come from the Chicago area, with its rich tradition of nationally recognized, championship-level adult softball, it was natural that slow-pitch leagues would emerge in Huntley. There is a large reservoir of male residents who have played softball all of their lives

“We have many guys in the league who are skilled and enthusiastic players and are still healthy and fit enough to play,” says Lester Zemba, the club’s publicity director and a member for 10 years. “We love the game, and we’re enthusiastic when we come out here and find out there’s an opportunity to play. We have had 300-400 people out to watch some of our games. Last year, in one league’s championship game, the Adjusters defeated the Airports in a dramatic comeback victory that was one of the best games we’ve had here.”

This year, there will be 22 teams in three leagues playing three days a week. “We have guys in the early 50s and our oldest guy—Pete Karambelas—is 82,” Zemba said. “The only significant difference between our leagues and those of younger men is that we stress safety a lot more. We play with gloves, we don’t allow base stealing or sliding, and we have a lot of other rules and procedures designed to make the game as safe as possible.”

Zemba says serious injuries have been avoided. Then he laughs. “I was batting once and hit a ball. I was so keyed up, I tripped over my own feet running to first and fell and broke my shoulder,” he said. “But we have had a very small number of injuries, considering how many games and practice sessions we have.”

Each of the teams is sponsored by an area business, and they name themselves in creative ways related to their sponsors. A team sponsored by an executive cleaning company calls itself Dirt Bags, and one sponsored by an orthodontist is known as Holy Molars. A team sponsored by a chiropractor calls itself the Adjusters. Another sponsored by a physical therapist is called Lumbarjacks.

The club raises money through the sponsorships (typically $400) and player dues (ranging from $30 to $50 depending on the number of leagues in which a player participates).

Opening Day is May 15 at Eakin Field, Zemba said. “We like to start off with a big celebration, so we invite the mayor, village officials, and trustees, and sometimes even political or civic dignitaries from the area.”

Down the foul lines at Eakin, the distances are 265 and 267 feet. Has anyone ever hit a ball over the fence? Zemba was asked. “No,” he said. “But several have come close. One time, a long ball bounced off an outfielder’s head and sailed over the fence.”

This could be the year for that big blast, Lester.

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