The Steelheads threw superstition to the wind, dawned brand new jerseys for the first time this season, and for the fourth year in a row, won the IOOF San Lorenzo Valley co-ed softball crown.
The Steelheads retained their title by beating the Mountain Mechanics 15-14 in the bottom half of the final inning on June 12 at Michael Gray field in Felton.
The title was more elusive to capture this year than it was in the last three and the Mountain Mechanics ensured that there would be no easy cruise for the reigning champions.
“We were winning with the other jerseys,” Steelheads first baseman Ralph Stormant. “I don’t know why I felt we needed new ones, but it seemed to work out.”
The Steelheads rolled over the Mount Hermon Banana Sluggers 20-5, in the semi-finals, but by the final inning of the final game against the Mountain Mechanics, the Steelheads found themselves down by one run, 14-13 and three outs away from losing the championship.
It all came down to the last at bats for the Steelheads who pulled off the miracle and scored the needed two runs to win the game 15-14.
“It just doesn’t get any closer than that,” Stormant said. “That one came all the way down to the wire.”
After playing solid all season, the Steelheads had finished the A-league regular season without a loss, and managed to finish perfect throughout the playoffs as well.
“This was a huge game for us,” Steelheads shortstop Dan Heinemann said. “This makes four titles in the last four years. It’s huge.”
In the B-league, Icy Hot defeated Nature’s Element 12-8 to capture the title. Icy Hot had beaten the Coyote’s while Nature’s Element took down the Bad News Beers to make the championship.
The IOOF summer league started play this week. For more information: http://ioofslv.teamopolis.com/
