To recap the results of Week 11, I would like to start at Hayden Methodist.
Since the league’s beginning on Nov. 3, 1952, it has been known as the Lutheran Dartball League of Jackson and Bartholomew counties. At the beginning of last year’s league, we received a request from Hayden Methodist Church asking if they could join the league.
The league welcomed Hayden Methodist into our group with open arms. As Hayden was contacting members to be on the team, Rodger Ruddick was the first to sign up.
Last Friday, Mr. Ruddick was called to his heavenly home. On Monday, Hayden was host to Lutheran Lake. In the bottom of the first inning, Hayden Methodist took an automatic out by listing Rodger as their leadoff hitter.
At the end of the inning, both teams took a break in memoriam to Rodger Ruddick. For the night, Lutheran Lake swept Hayden by scores of 2-0, 2-1 in 10 innings and 4-1.
This was a good example of the type of teams we have in our league and why the league was happy to accept Hayden Methodist into the league.
In other action Monday, Sauers E took two games from Wegan C to remain in first place with a record of 24-9.
Wegan B lost two games to Brownstown 4 with the third game going 10 innings. That drops Wegan B a game behind Sauers E at 23-10.
Dudleytown Mets went to Jonesville and swept the “bricksters” to move into third place with a record of 20-10.
Sauers B took two games from Immanuel Darty to tie the Mets for third, although they have 11 losses having played the extra week.
In Game 1, Dave Darlage got a walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth to win 6-5, and he followed it up in Game 3 with a walk-off hit in the bottom of the 11th inning to win by the same 6-5 score.
The league would like to send out prayers to the family of Rodger Ruddick for the loss of their loved one. Prayers continue to go out to Eric Otte of Jonesville. Eric remains in an Indianapolis hospital after being attacked by their bull over a week ago. Eric received numerous injuries after being thrown up in the air by the bull several times.
A neighbor ran into the bull with his pickup to try to distract the attack, and finally, they had to shoot the bull nine times to put it down. We are all thinking about you, good buddy.
Don’t forget the Dartball scholarship applications are due to be turned in by Feb. 15. There is a $250 scholarship to a girl or boy who will be attending Trinity Lutheran High School in the fall and a $500 college scholarship to a boy or girl who will be enrolled in a college in the fall.
The only stipulation for the college scholarship is the boy or girl must be a member of one of the churches currently playing in the league.
Applications may be picked up and turned in to Bob Klosterman by calling 812-580-8394.
Dartball history
The team that is 11th in seniority is Brownstown 4.
The current season is Brownstown 4’s 30th in the league. They joined the league in 1966-67. Having dropped out of the league after one year, they reentered the league in 1994-95 and have played every year since.
In the 29 years of league play, Brownstown 4 has won 715 games and lost 731 games for a winning percentage of .494.
In their 1,446 games, they have scored 5,690 runs for an average of 3.93 runs/game. Their highest scoring game has been 19 runs during the 1996-97 season, and their highest series has been 34 runs during the 1999-2000 season.
Brownstown 4 has won one third-place trophy in the league for the 2001-02 year when they went 40-20 for their best winning percentage. They were tourney runner-up in 2010, losing to Sauers E 3-1 in the championship game.
Brownstown 4’s overall record in the tourney is 13-24 for a .351 winning percentage.
For their representative to the 50th anniversary team, Brownstown 4 selected Fred Stuckwisch. Fred was one of the first dartball players from the Brownstown area. He was considered a really good hitter and played until his health forced him to retire after the 1998-99 season.