Archive: Sports

August 6 - The Friday Night Softball League tournament took place on the Lansing ball fields on Saturday. The double-elimination tournament ran all day as the seven league teams battled it out. A team must have played at least six games during the season to qualify to play in the tournament. Adults who want to play join teams sponsored by area businesses. Each over-30 teams may have up to three players who are younger than 30 years old.

That didn't dampen the enthusiasm on the field. The games were quick paced with a lot of hits and catches. Pitchers threw the ball in a high arc toward the plate.

Randy Reeves, of the Reeves Brothers team told us the league has been going for about 30 years. Many of the players lamented that the league has shrunk to the point where non-Lansing teams were permitted to join. Even still there used to be more teams. There were about ten a few years ago, he said.

Frank Tibke pitches

The Rick's Rentals team had a perfect season until Saturday. By mid-morning they had lost their first match, and it was all over later in the day. That left Groton's Loretta's and Lansing's Walt's Motor Sales to duke it out at 3:30. The Loretta's coach, Bruce Graham, said, "They're a good team. If we can get past the first inning, we'll be OK."

Brian Bowman and his Mom, Sharon

Sharon Bowman was on the field to cheer her husband Doug on the Rick's Rental team and son Brian, playing for Walt's Motor Sales. "They used to play on the same team together," she said. Doug, an Ithaca Police officer, also plays on a local law enforcement team called The Choirboys, made up of local law enforcement officers. The team has played for the last seven years, this year competing in a tournament in Maryland.

Mike Davis, of the Loretta's team, had fractured two bones in his leg in a game the evening before. He was in the stands cheering on his team, with a score card in his lap. "Most of us guys have been together for 15 to 18 years," he said.

Walt Sweazey

Walt's Motor Sales has also been playing for a long time. Player Frank Tibke told us, "There's always been a Walt's team in the Lansing league." That heritage payed off as Walt's coach Chuck Crandall led his team to victory, coaching from the third base position, while Walt Sweazey encouraged his players at first base.

Walt's dugout

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