Senior softball: the field of dreams, memories

Published 11:00 am Thursday, March 20, 2003

The legs may have lost a step or five, and for the aging back, some of those grounders are indeed uncomfortably close to the ground.

For the new Senior Center softball team, spring training brings rediscovery of the game of youth, and some of its muscles as well.

“This has me breathing hard just throwing the ball,” said Will Carncross, taking warm-up tosses with a teammate Monday.

The squad held its second-ever practice this week at Rotary Field. They came together after a challenge from the Bremerton Senior Center, which has an established program and fields enough

players for ongoing intrasquad

competition.

“They probably think they can clobber Bainbridge,” said Suelyn Wong, who turned out with her husband Herman.

“That may be true now, but it may not be for long,” coach Reid Hansen said.

Hansen boasts the most experience, having played ball at the University of Washington and then in a semi-pro league. He also tried out for the Tacoma Rainiers in the late 1940s.

“We assume Reid’s not going to be as violent as Lou Piniella,” Herman Wong said.

Among the 17 players now on the roster, ages range from 50 to 86, although specific admissions on this count are few. Players needn’t bring skills or experience, but a sense of humor is a must.

“We want a huge bench, for unlimited substitutions,” Herman Wong said.

The still informal practices make allowance for such rudimentary questions as “where does the shortstop stand?” – overheard during an infield session – as well as work on fundamentals like keeping one’s hands together on the bat.

Some of the swings observed Monday could use a little refinement, and throws across the diamond often bounced en route. During a game of work-up, a fly ball to center turned into a home run when it dropped between two fielders who proved somewhat less than spritely chasing down.

But many balls jumped off players’ bats with surprising alacrity, and crisp was the snap of leather as those with better arms worked it around the infield.

“We’ll be able to get somebody out, I think,” Hansen said, “as long as nobody breaks a leg or pulls a muscle.”

The team plans to practice Monday and Friday mornings throughout the summer, holding intrasquad games until they’re sufficiently confident in their skills to pick up the Bremerton gauntlet.

Games will be played with rules that ensure fun and safety – no sliding or stealing, with two bags at first to prevent collisions.

And suggesting that they may in fact have the game in their blood, some players are already talking about striking for better contracts.

Wondered Roger Lauen:

“How is the city council going to respond to our request for a dome?”