If there was a “Who’s Having the Most Fun?” championship in Sun City, the softballers just might win it.
The day featured two games: in the first, the Big Hitters defeated the Coyotes 10 to 5, and in the second, the Fuelers beat the Lumbarjacks 7 to 4.
Coyotes vs. Big Hitters on opening day. (Photos by Hannah Sturtecky/Sun Day)
In between hitting, pitching, and running bases, the Softball Club mixes in creative humor and makes fun of itself in an almost infinite variety of ways. They even have an “official” humorist, a jokester named Jack Gilhooly who doubles as the group’s number one fan. Things are loose and relaxed at Eakin Field in the dugouts, stands, bases, and everywhere else.
On May 19 at their 11th annual Opening Day, the players laughed good naturedly when a large contingent of Huntley firefighters, who came to celebrate with the club, left as the ceremonies started in order to answer the call of a construction fire elsewhere in the village.
“Now you see how those guys live. They show up at one place to have some fun, and they suddenly get called away to go to work,” one player commented.
A lot of other dignitaries and special guests remained, however, to make the Opening Day party successful. It was helped by a beautiful late-spring day and a generous crowd of visitors. Gilhooly was getting warmed up early in the stands.
“I was a manager and catcher in my day,” he said. “I retired with a .500 average. I got three hits in six at-bats. I always figured a hit was when the bat struck the ball. They asked me to retire when I took two minutes to lean over and pick up a ball at home plate. My stomach was too big. I always thought that was a major event.
“My best memory here is the hidden ball trick one team pulled off in one game,” Gilhooly recalled. “They talked about it before the game, but a lot of guys said you couldn’t do it right. But the first baseman held on to the ball and the pitcher did his fake, and when the runner stepped off, they nailed him. It was upheld by the umps. Amazing.”
Opening day brought out plenty of spectators, Huntley dignitaries, and plenty of laughs. And all that before the hot dogs.
Gilhooly estimated that he has attended “about half” of the hundreds of games played at Eakin since 2001.
“I love to watch and boo the umps and heckle the players,” he said. “It’s a great sport, and I’m always amazed at how well these guys play it.”
Several representatives from the teams’ sponsors were on hand to celebrate opening day.
“We have so much support that there are companies waiting to become sponsors,” said Pat McKay, board member.
The Club knows where to go for some good musicians to sing the National Anthem. Janet Graf and Kay Anderson of the Prairie Singers did the honors with style on Opening Day. Janet’s husband Duane is a club member.
In a gesture of patriotism, club president Bob Kennedy said the flag at Eakin Field will be displayed at half mast this season in recognition of fallen Illinois military personnel or police or fire safety personnel.
“We are cooperating with the Fire Department and the Illinois Governor’s Office in that recognition program,” Kennedy said.
If you’re looking for some more chuckles, check out these team names matched with their sponsors:
Dirt Bags, sponsored by Green Clean Co.
Amazing Smiles, sponsored by Century Dental.
Money Bags, sponsored by Edward Jones Financial
For Eyes, sponsored by Huntley Eye Care
Bucket Listers, sponsored by DeFiore Funeral Home.
Adjusters, sponsored by Binger Chiropractic
Lumbar-Jacks, sponsored by Moffett Therapy
Agents, sponsored by State Farm Insurance
Big Hitters, sponsored by Huntley Collision
Cutters, sponsored by Chris’ Lawn Service.
Other sponsors are Bay Hill Dental, Veach Lawn Service, Kinetic Therapy, Huntley Realty, Century 21 Realty, Tom Peck Ford, Coyote Auto, Citizens Bank, Drendel’s Mobil, Castle Bank, and Huntley Travel.
On a serious note, the players haven’t forgotten about safety. Kennedy announced that 28 more club members have completed training on CPR and defibrillator operation with the assistance of the Huntley Fire Department.
“We have more than 40 of us trained on these machines now, and we have a defibrillator in the third base dugout if we ever have an emergency during a game,” Kennedy said.
Also on hand for Opening Day were Bill Pennock, executive director of the Sun City Community Association; along with Larry Mann, director of building services; and Dave Osborne, director of facility maintenance.
Bob Capuani, a team manager, said he particularly enjoys playing in the league and seeing his team improve year after year.
“The first year I played, I had no arm, and we all struggled,” he said. “But in the last three years, we have improved each year and did better in the playoffs. Teams are formed around neighborhoods and are kept together as long as possible. This builds camaraderie and socializing at neighborhood events and at games.”
