The Sun City Softball players have been waiting to hear those magical words this summer: “Play ball.”
The field is open, but on June 24, the Sun City Board decided that all club activities were canceled.
As a result, the Softball Club posted on the following: “The Sun City Softball Club will not be operational until further notice. Any events at Eakin Field will not be sanctioned by the Sun City Softball Club. The field is now open. In order to allow for residents to use the field safely, organized pick-up games have been set up with reserved times for groups. All residents using the field will do so at their own risk. Please adhere to all of the safety guidelines provided by Sun City Management.”
After weeks in isolation, Sun City residents who play the game were ready to round the bases again and experience some camaraderie. According to Senior Softball USA, around 1.5 million Americans over 50 play the game recreationally in church leagues, bar leagues, and other local outlets.
On Friday night, July 17, enough players got together to form 2 teams for a pick-up game. In green shirts, the Nationals challenged the neon orange shirts, Coyotes.
Pat Klatt, pitcher for the Coyotes said, “I feel great about playing. It’s a great chance to get together. It’s still very competitive, some players never lose that. We don’t keep score, but it’s on everyone’s mind.”
Someone is keeping score. Sitting on the sidelines on a lawn chair wearing suspenders and a straw hat is Darrell Cooper. Cooper said, “I come to 95% of the games. I come to the evening and morning games. I keep score because I always have to do something. While I watch T.V. I do a crossword puzzle.”
Is there a meaning to the suspenders? Cooper was sporting suspenders “that measure up”. Cooper said, “It started with my secretary. She gave me my first pair. She thought I had a serious plumber problem. And that started all the suspender gifts.”
Although this was a friendly pick-up game, familiar arguments on calls were heard. Alex Schank, an experienced umpire of many years is heard yelling, “Read the rule book.”
Chuck Hund, President of the Softball Club said, “I am just happy to be out here and playing. We’re just having fun. I am playing on five teams.”
Watching the game, the same the excitement builds as in a regular-season game as Tommy Moore of the Coyotes hits a home run in the 2nd inning. Larry Wojtas catches a hard-hit fly ball in the 3rd. The Score is 5-2 in favor of the Coyotes at the bottom of the third.
The game turns around in favor of the Nationals as Jeff Williams of the hits a home run bringing in two other runs. The tide turns with this home-run as more runs come in and the score is now 9-5 in favor of the Nationals.
Bob Ross a National Player, excited at the turn of events, said, “We’re blessed with the opportunity to play some games. The enormity of the current situation is dire. I feel that this community has a lot of care and good sense and that allows us to do some outdoor activities.”
The game ended with the unofficial score of Nationals 10 and Coyotes 5.
John Marlovits, a Coyote player along with his wife Carol, moved here two months ago, from Carol Stream. How does he like it so far? Marlovitis said, “We moved here because of all the activities available to us. Unfortunately, due to the virus, all those clubs are closed. Although nothing is organized, we have played pickleball, bags, and golf. Our goal was to get involved.”
Senior softball is a uniquely American activity, a group of elderly sports devotees playing what’s mostly considered a young person’s game. But the balancing act in playing any sport like senior softball during the COVID-19 pandemic is familiar to any business, events, or activities across the country.
