Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Spud Rowley's team took home the Championship honors following weekend play at Kimball Recreation Area. Back row from left to right are Hunter Roseberry, Sarah Bouse, Jeni Herren, Ashley Deeds, Becky Herren, Leah Uhing and Spud Rowley. Front row, from left to right are Byron Rowley, Kyle Spicer, Sean Keane and Bob Case.
Just like years past the Kimball Co-Ed Softball League came to an end Friday night, July 28, under the lights with Team Autolok coming out on top for the 2017 regular season, followed by High West Energy in second.
With the team anxiously awaiting the bracket, and the tournament play to start on Saturday morning, July 29, games were set to kick off at 9 a.m.
The morning was very warm and muggy but at least the clouds were out in full force. Finally just after noon things started to cool off and it was perfect softball weather, for a while at least.
Games continued throughout the afternoon with the Championship game being played on the small field due to a strong windstorm that rolled in during the semi-finals game on the big field, so play was moved down below to the small field.
In the end it was Spud Rowley's team, made up of quite a few ball players from Sidney and a few from Kimball, against Mitch Browns team out of Kimball, in the championship.
The two teams had faced off once before the final meeting, at which time a few choice words were exchanged between teams and the umpire, but it was Rowley's team that came out on top.
Because the tournament was a double elimination set up, Brown's team had another shot to get to the finals.
Brown's team advanced to the Championships following a windblown, semi-finals game against High West Energy at the small field.
Rowley's team came into the championship game undefeated on the final game day and Brown's team had suffered just one loss.
Due to a contentious game previously that day between these two teams, it was decided that there would be four umps on the field, one at each base, to ensure no calls were missed.
The Championship battle began at 6 p.m. If Brown's team were to win, the two teams would have to play one more game to decide the winner. If Rowley's team won, the season would come to an end.
The game was tight throughout and ended with Rowley's team, which came into tournament play in the third spot, coming out on top.
According to Rowley there were many who didn't think his team would go 5-0 and were probably looking for one of the top two teams to win in the end.
"This was the funnest tournament, win or lose, everyone was smiling," Rowley said. He added he thinks the tournament was pretty fair, and it was a beautiful day to play ball.
"Kinda fell under the midnight moonshine" said Rowley when describing the tournament.