Sponsors step up for HCC summer baseball, softball teams

By Bob Balgemann

REPORTER

About 40 businesses in the Machesney Park area have sponsored the 57 teams in this summer’s baseball and softball program at Harlem Community Center (HCC).

Some, such as NACD, Tim Fetters Roofing, Dickerson Nieman, Ray’s Alignments, Nickel/World and Speedway Auto Mall are sponsoring more than one team.

Here is the lineup of businesses showing they support the young athletes in Machesney Park:

Crystal Precision Drilling, NACD, Express Comfort, 
Buddy’s Burgers, Tim Fetters Roofing, A-1 Restoration, Ringland Johnson, Rush Delivery Corp., Shields State Farm, Dickerson Nieman, Ray’s Alignments, White Glove Cleaning and Physicians Immediate Care.

Also, Special T Engraving, Forest City Dental, Hurd Management, Speedway Auto Mall, Rock Valley Packaging, Park License Services, Interstate Studios, Raynor Doors, Honest Pest Control, Nickel/World, Precision Pavement and Backyard Bar and Grill.

Also, Summeril Heating, A.W. Anderson Agency, Larson and Larson, Citizens Finance, Hidden Treasures, Gresty Auto Sales, Mrs. Fishers, Park Appliance, Forest City Auto and L and M Garage.

Meanwhile, some interesting matchups are taking shape as the HCC summer of 2016 continues in its third week.

The June 9 games were cancelled by bad weather, but Mother Nature cooperated during the week of June 13 and allowed some games involving undefeated teams.

Alone in 1st place

Shields (5-0) took sole possession of the top spot in Coach Pitch Boys baseball competition, mostly boys 6-8 years of age, by defeating Cross, 15-2. Going into that game the teams were sharing first place with 4-0 records.

They set the stage for their showdown with identical 16-15 wins earlier in the week. Shields rallied from a 15-14 deficit to score twice in the bottom of the last inning.

Head coach Brad Shields said he was nervous early in the game with Cross. “We were hitting the ball but they were making the plays.” Then his team seized the advantage starting in the third inning. “It was a solid team effort” on both offense and defense, he said.

Members of Team Shields are Dante Bell;, Brody Carlson,

Jackson Cook, Gavin Downey, Jake Elliott, Trevor Fryer, Jacob Hatton, Gaven Metcalf, Zeke Schmidt, Boden Shields, Ryan Shields and Finn Stovall.

Broughton (4-1) remained in the mix by defeating Bradley, 13-8, then taking a thriller from Titus, 17-16. Wins also were picked up the week of June 13 by Titus, Bradley and Larys. Bradley is in third place with a 3-2 record.

There’s a logjam at the top of Pee-Wee Boys standings among McWilliams (4-0), Nehmzow (3-0), James (4-1) and Yalden (3-1).

Some of those teams played each other last week with James defeating Yalden, 17-3, and McWilliams edging James, 4-2. Hunt picked up its first win of the season in a tight 11-10 victory over Hall, while Juno won twice, 15-9 and 11-9. Nehmzow took another close decision, 7-5.

Yeoman holds top spot

In Midget Boys play, Yeoman (4-0) remained in first place, adding one victory, 12-0, to its total. Anderson (3-1) came back after a recent loss to remain in the hunt with a 14-3 win. Larsen picked up two wins, 17-14 and 24-10.

Myers (3-0) is still unbeaten in Bantam Boys baseball by winning, 12-1, while Peyton won for the first time, 11-1.

Galaxy Girls games remained competitive with Lawver upsetting Rodriguez, 12-11, and Brassfield rebounding from being upset the week before to get back on track, 6-1. Lauer continues to be in first place with a 3-0 mark.

Hawkinson and Jensen are still tied for first in Coach Pitch Girls softball, each with a 2-0 record.

Myers and Hissong are unbeaten in the Pee-Wee Girls division, but Myers is in first by virtue of having played two more games. Myers won twice the week of June 13 by scores of 18-4 and 14-7.

Team Bri McKnight is a perfect 4-0 in Midget Girls play with gridlock in the race for second place among Helwig, Wilhelmi and Miles. But the season is young and sometimes one or more of those in the middle wind up at the top.