Members of the Tellico Men’s Senior Softball League hope to swing for the fences and foster a fun environment to play the game at Loudon Municipal Park.
David Davis was one of the many who founded the league 12 years ago when he had the idea to get back into a simpler game retirees in the Village who are above the age of 55 could join in on.
Four teams formed in 2002 to play one game. Bob Cherry, Norm Corda, Lynn Brinkley and Roger Stewart were the original team captains. Eventually, one game lead to seasons and multiple teams filled with players interested in picking back up the sport they once loved.
“It started out with some guys in Tellico Village just wanting to play a little softball in their retirement years,” Davis said.
By the spring of 2003, 63 men were participating. In the fall, a Rarity Bay team signed up, creating a fifth team in the league. In 2004, a sixth team was included, and the league remained that size until this year when participant population dropped, leaving the league with five teams again.
“This year, we sort of dropped off a few players,” Davis said.
Davis and teammates found a way to put those from the sixth team who were still interested in playing into different available spots on the other five squads. However, Davis said the league hopes to get back up to six teams again. While the league is only open to men, it includes men from surrounding counties like Knox and Monroe.
“Most guys can still stand there and hit the ball if you’re there at the plate because it is slow pitch,” member Bruce Rein said. “Most guys can catch the ball
if it isn’t too hard hit at them. The thing that happens to most of the people is their legs. As us guys get older, our legs give up, and we can’t run anymore. More guys
quit just because physically their legs give out.”
The men play by senior league rules, which is different from “regular softball rules for younger people,” Davis said. The goal of the rules is to prevent injury.
The league has two seasons in the spring and fall. Davis said participants avoid playing into the summer because of the exhaustive heat.
Each team plays eight-10 games, and the team with the best record is recorded as season champion. When Davis moved to Tellico Village, he had not played softball in about 20 years. He practiced before the season began and realized he remained in good enough shape to play, based on the performance of other men.
Rein, another founding member, saw the notice for a softball league posted in the Village and decided he would give it a try. He and Davis have yet to put down their bats and gloves, and say they don’t plan to do so for as long as possible. The spring season ended June 3, and the fall will begin at the end of August.
“It’s a lot of fun, and we just have a good time, and it’s not all cut-throat,” Davis said. “Everybody wants to win, but we have a good time and have a lot of fun when we’re playing.”
