A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

summer softball

A new chapter begins

There were times in the past month or two where I thought my softball playing days were finished.

And I was OK with it.

The one league we had been a mainstay in since 2003 was starting to falter a bit and we didn’t know which direction it was going. We were still going to play in it, despite competition (as I think most would agree) dwindling over the past few seasons.

Alas, several of the regulars on our team said they weren’t going to be playing this year. With that in mind, we figured it was better to call it the end instead of trying to fill a team with different players.

Softball season is here!

Then we decide – those of us who were of age – to go to another local league: Over 35.

Yes, it’s time for the old-man league.

And I’m OK with that.

You see, we all need to accept that we get older as time goes on. We can’t do the things we used to do. And there’s nothing wrong with admitting that.

This league is different – there’s no bunting and stealing. There’s a force at the plate (as well as a commit line to cross). There are no helmets required as there’s supposed to be a slight arc to the pitch (despite it still being modified). There’s no sliding.

Basically, it’s a hitter’s league.

This is going to be a tad different for me and for our team. See, we like to bunt and steal some. When I set up a lineup, it’s often based on several factors. All that is basically thrown out the window now as a lot of strategy is gone.

I’m still OK with this.

It’s no secret that my age begins with a 4. I’m getting older and I don’t know how many years I have left in me to play this game. I have a lot of other interests and my time often goes elsewhere. I guarantee I don’t make every single game this year.

But, I still love to play and I think this is the best way to go about it.

We play once a week. There are 10 teams. The season lasts 13 weeks before playoffs. I can handle this.

It’s softball for the twilight, I’d say. And heck, by playing in this league, maybe I’ll even play more years.

The only downside? I’m starting the year behind the plate because, honestly, a catcher just needs to catch the ball. There’s no stealing and such, or worrying about bunts.

We’ll see how long my knees deal with it, though.

The season starts tonight. It’s supposed to be gorgeous weather. I’m looking forward to seeing how we do in this league. It hopefully will, at least, be a lot of fun.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

It’s time for the next step in softball

Softball.

For more than 26 years, softball has been a staple of my summer. I’ve run teams for most of that time, and we’ve had a pretty good run of success. We’ve competed in some pretty good leagues and always tried to be competitive.

We also tried to keep the main core of players together. For the most part, we’ve been successful with that. A few of us have played together for more than 15 years. Others have been there 8-10. We’ve done well with it in regard to staying together and being successful.

But as they say about all good things …

Last season ... the final year before a bunch of us are moving to Over 35.

Last season … the final year before a bunch of us are moving to Over 35.

A funny thing about sports like softball – when you get older, it becomes harder to do what you once did. Ask my 60-year-old pitcher who has played with me for 18-plus years. Ask some of the other guys who have stepped away from the game in recent years. It’s not easy, that’s for sure. Families, other interests, time, work etc. all play a part in this.

It happens.

Too, though the enjoyment of playing is still there, other parts are not. The competition as it once was in the league we play in isn’t what it used to be. Basically, if we had stayed, there would have been us and another at the top (the same teams who have been there the past few years) as one or two others were opting to drop out. That meant a five- or six-team league with a large gap in the quality of the teams.

And yes, I say that with confidence. The teams have had chances over the years to be at a higher level and they aren’t. It’s nothing against them, but it’s just not fun when you wallop people over and over. And though some may argue that they can compete with the top teams, I let records and scores over the years solidify my case.

Last year, we went into the playoffs as the No. 2 seed. We faced our rivals in the final and they had entered unbeaten. We won two out of three to win our second straight championship and fourth in six years. That series last year was fun, heated, and competitive. The win in the end was pure elation. We enjoyed and celebrated.

But it wouldn’t be the same this year as, unless another team or two made a late push to get in, it would be almost a foregone conclusion which teams would play in the final.

So, it was time to step away.

A group of us are going to head to the next step in our softball lives – a local over-35 league. It’s one day a week and is set up for the older guys (no bunt/steal, double home plate etc.), though it’s pretty competitive is as many older guys from the former league play on teams there.

The one league is going to continue (at least through this year). I know some of my guys are going to play in it and I’m sure I’ll stop over to watch a game or two throughout the year. But sometimes one has to move on.

It’s funny, too. When I made the decision the other night, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. The past few years I’d kept going for some reasons that weren’t just personal – such as making sure some of the younger guys had a place to play etc. I don’t regret it, but once I made the decision, I knew it was the right one. Several of our core guys were going to be stopping this year as well, so it made sense.

There were some great memories with this team. In fact, for the past 26-plus years, the memories have been great. I’m not sure how many more years I have in me, but this is the right path for me to go. I look forward to the new challenge and such and can’t wait to see what the league brings. No matter if we finish first or fourth or whatever, it will be a fun time and challenge.

Play ball!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Softball still fun after 25 years

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For those of you who know me, you know I’m pretty active in the summer with softball. In fact, it’s been a massive part of my summers for 25 years now. Of those years, all but one has been spent running at least one team.

I’ve played in several leagues and tournaments at all levels. I’ve played modified pitch (mainly) and slow pitch. I’ve also won championships and had my softball heart broke more than one time.

There were summers where I played nearly 100 games or so, and others where I didn’t even reach 20.

But it’s always been a part of my summers.

Coming into this season, I thought it was going to be it. Being 40 makes it harder to do things like this. I can still play some and I have started pitching a little, so there’s time to stay in the game. But the time it takes makes it harder and harder.

Still, this season is one of those that make you want to come back for more.

2014 League Champs!

2014 League Champs!

I’m also way mellower than I have ever been. Don’t get me wrong, in the 2-2 1/2 hours on the field, I want to win and compete. But when it’s all said and done, I want to smile, know I played the game hard and go have a cold one or hang out with friends.

Winning doesn’t suck, however.

Winning also makes you want to keep coming back. We came pretty close to a perfect season. We lost the opening game of the finals – our first loss of the season – and came storming back to win the next two to complete an 18-1 season and win the championship – our third in that league (well, to be fair, it’s kind of a different league now … but same place).

The funny part is how some from the other team actually said to some of our guys that they were better than us and should have won (we beat them in the series this year, 4-1, and outscored them 82-31 in those games, including 37-13 in the three-game finals series), despite the numbers proving otherwise. That being said, the finals were pretty exciting, though long breaks and such were pretty key in us all of a sudden not hitting as we had (I think, in the full series, we left the bases loaded at least 5-6 times, several times having them loaded with one out), but we played solid in the field and earned the title.

I also played three games in another league (and wasn’t eligible for the playoffs), but that team won the championship – also losing but once game.

The season ended with a trip to nationals with mixed team. Despite not reaching our goal (winning a game), it was an interesting experience and the first time I’ve been to nationals in several years.

Personally, I had one of the best hitting seasons I’ve had in a long time. I pitched a few games, but need to pitch more if I’m ever going to be regular at it. The funny part is I had the second lowest batting average on my team – at .419. We hit .502 as a team. That’s pretty crazy!

Nationals 2014.

Nationals 2014.

In the end, it was a truly fun season. The regular season went decent, and despite the playoffs dragging on way too long, the end result was worth the wait.

Initially, my thought was to move to the over-35 league next year. That’s out the window. I’m into it again. I’d love to play more. Maybe hit a few tournaments. States. Nationals. A league and do well again … why not? Who knows how many years I can do this, so I may as well stick it out.

For years, I always did the “right thing” as the manager and took a seat when we had extras. This year, I decided to play more, especially hitting. I’m glad I did as it gave me the drive to continue playing this game.

At least for as long as my body allows.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Summer softball is still a blast, despite fewer players, teams

It’s that time of the year.

What a difference a year makes.

The softball team I run is out to a 6-0 start, despite not always having 10 players on the field. I’m not sure what’s different between this year and last, but things are clicking a little bit better.

And I’m all for it.

We’ve scored a lot of runs, too. Everybody seems to be hitting, we’re playing decent defense and it appears the fun factor is back in the game. We’re still not without flaws, though, as we’ve yet to field consistent team and lineup. We have our core players who make every game, but outside of that, we’re filling in spots as we go along.

As the guy putting the lineup in the book, that can be maddening!

One thing I’ve realized in recent years is how softball — at least at the modified fast pitch level — in our area is really a dying sport. When I started playing softball more than 20 years ago, this area was a hotbed. There were no fewer than five solid leagues within a 50-mile radius or so. They were all pretty solid, too.

The local league was a consistent 10-12 teams. The one up the road had two divisions that held probably 10-12 teams in each, as well as a solid women’s league. The league I’m in now was also large and the others were solid in their own right.

I still love stepping on a softball field and giving all I can. It helps keep you young.

Back then, we didn’t even need to wear helmets!

In my “prime,” I played in three leagues. Basically, I played every night of the week — sometimes two games. It was so much fun and something I’m glad I had the chance to do.

Weekends were often filled with tournaments. That pretty much meant from May to late August, softball was life. And it was worth it.

During my top year or two, I approached the 100-game mark. I know some guys in our area still do that, but it’s with slow pitch and such. We did all modified pitch, which is as close to baseball as any other softball in my mind. It’s pitching, defense, hitting and strategy. Run and gun, bunt or bomb long homers.

Each year, we’d go to states or nationals, too. Talk about a heap of fun — it was at those tournaments.

Things have certainly changed.

People don’t, as often, bring their families and play softball. There’s golf leagues, and other things to do. Softball continues to die out. Though there are still some hardcore players (and it’s a shame they didn’t play in the earlier years when I did — they’d have loved it), there aren’t as many.

The game is changing, that’s for sure.

I still love playing. I go on game nights and want to win. I give it what I can for a couple of hours, grab a bite to eat and maybe a cold one and call it a night.

I once thought I’d play softball until I was well into my 50s and 60s. Now I’m not sure how far I’ll be playing once I hit my 40s. It might not be by choice, either.

Until all of that happens, I’ll continue this year. Hopefully we can keep playing well and maybe make a run in the playoffs when the time comes.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!