Topes Notes: Isotopes, Special Olympics, first responders team up for charity softball game

It took a few seconds for all the clanging of James Keefner’s medals to stop making noise as he walked up behind the podium on Tuesday at Isotopes Park.

In all, the 33-year-old unofficial mayor of Isotopes Park/grounds crew assistant/between-innings-dance-extraordinaire/general purveyor of good vibes for the team, says he has “more than 1,000” Special Olympics medals and trophies back at home.

His mom said it was definitely more than 100, but hey, what do moms know, anyway? We’ll call it 1,000.

Tuesday, James was just proud to be wearing three of those medals as he and fellow Albuquerque Isotopes employee Chris Dixon, also a longtime competitor in the Special Olympics, helped announce some of their fellow Special Olympians who will be playing alongside Albuquerque and Bernalillo County law enforcement and fire fighting personnel in Friday night’s first “Guns & Hoses” charity softball game at Isotopes Park prior to the Triple-A team’s game against the Reno Aces.

“The greatest thing about doing Special Olympics is getting to play with a lot of my friends, like James here, and just to have a good time, and be able to get out and have fun,” said Dixon as he put his hands on the shoulders of a smiling Keefner.

The Isotopes have long held special first responder nights and hosted the running of the Special Olympics Torch through the park during games, among other charitable events, but combining them this year is a first.

About 45 area fire and rescue employees and city and county police officers will make up the majority of two teams playing Friday night with some of the 3,200+ athletes who take part in Special Olympics of New Mexico.

The charity game is from 5:15 p.m. to 6 p.m.. The gates open at 5 p.m. and first pitch for the Isotopes game is 6:35 p.m..

“Events like this remind us that serving the community extends beyond our uniforms and everyday duties,” said Zach Lardy, Deputy Chief of Bernalillo County Fire & Rescue. “They’re about building relationships, fostering unity and giving back to causes that make our community strong.”

Beyond the event itself, Randy Mascorella, Executive Director of Special Olympics New Mexico, gave special praise for the years of continued support from the Isotopes and noted that athletes like Dixon and Keefner benefit not only from competing, but from having jobs like the ones they have with the Isotopes.

“It changes how people see them — as employees of the Isotopes — and it changes how they see themselves,” Mascorella said. “Too often, when with people with intellectual disabilities, when they come into this world, they’re just presented with so many limitations, so many ‘You will never. You will never. You won’t be able to’s.’ The opportunity to be employed at Isotopes Park ... changes how they view themselves, and then it changes how, in my opinion, we see each other.”

Anyone with a ticket to Friday night’s Isotopes game can enter the stadium gates at 5 p.m. to watch the softball game.

The postgame fireworks show will have a special police and firefighter theme, of course that’s weather permitting — both rain and wind — as determined by the Fire Marshall, who may or may not be in a good mood depending on the outcome of the earlier softball game.

Know the foe

The Isotopes host the Reno Aces, Friday through Sunday, at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park.

• Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies (37-54 overall, ninth place; 6-11 second half, ninth place)

• Aces, Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks (41-52 overall, eighth place; 4-14 second half, 10th place)

Radio call up

Longtime Isotopes play-by-play announcer Josh Suchon is getting called up to work two games — Friday and Saturday night — for the Colorado Rockies Radio Network, which consists of 34 stations, including the flagship station Denver’s KOA.

In-house Isotopes historian Joe Traub, the son of Vice President/General Manager John Traub who has called games in the past for the Isotopes, will take over on the call in Albuquerque for all three weekend games.

Suchon will rejoin the Isotopes for their game Tuesday at Salt Lake.

Three up, three down

Looking good:

1. Adael Amador was 10-for-28 (.357) over his last six games. That follows a stretch in which he was 5-for-35 (.143) over 10 games.

2. Over the two series entering the all-star break (12 games for most PCL teams, 11 for the Isotopes with one postponed), the Isotopes are tied with Oklahoma City for the most saves with four. On the season, their 15 total saves is 8th in PCL.

3. OF Sterlin Thompson is tied for the PCL lead in triples (7) on the season and has a league-best four over the past 30 days.

Look away:

1. With the game tied this season, Albuquerque pitchers have allowed a PCL-worst .305 opponent batting average (the only team allowing over .300), the most hits (236) and most home runs (32).

2. Rockies SS Ezequiel Tovar played six games with the Isotopes leading up to the All-Star break. He went 3-for-25 (.120) with six strikeouts.

3. The Isotopes are ninth in the standings and in pitches thrown per inning (18.05). Salt Lake is last in the standings and last in pitches/inning (18.35).

Fast food

Chile Pepper Race standings (41 races):

Salsa Jar — 13 (wins)

Taco — 12

Green Chile — 9

Red Chile — 7

Homestand highlights

The team’s shortest homestand of the season (three games, Friday through Sunday) features the following promotions:

FRIDAY: First responders night and pregame “Guns & Hoses” charity softball game to benefit Special Olympics; Postgame fireworks

SATURDAY: Green Chile Cheeseburgers Night; Postgame fireworks.

SUNDAY: City Roots game, 505 Parachute Jackets for first 2,000 fans (16 and older); pregame concert; gates open at 4:30 p.m.

You can reach Geoff at ggrammer@abqjournal.com or follow him on Twitter (X) @GeoffGrammer.