Sixteen men ranging from age 65 to 69 make up the Chattanooga Retreads softball team, but they hold their own against players half their ages as they practice and prepare for the state Senior Olympics.
The team plays games and practices against 20- to 40-year-olds in the DuPont Church League in Hixson.
The Retreads won a recent church league game 17-14 against Signal Mountain Church of Christ.
The Chattanooga Retreads softball team, with men ages 65 to 69 from all over the Chattanooga area, plans to compete in the Senior Olympics in Franklin, Tenn., this summer. Front from left are Ringgold’s Bill Nelson, Dunlap’s Curt Grant, East Ridge’s Tom Yarman, East Brainerd’s Don Johnson and Soddy-Daisy’s Guy Harris. Back from left are Evansville’s Jerry Howell, East Ridge’s Tom Card, Hixson’s Rick Anderson, Chattanooga’s Raymond Kile, Flat Top Mountain’s Conrad Lewis, Rossville’s Billy Ingram, Flat Top Mountain’s Wayne Keylon, Harrison’s Bob Jacobson and East Ridge’s Max Patrick. Not pictured is Rusty Aytes, of Elder Mountain.“We won the district Senior Olympics softball tournament in our age bracket, 65 to 69, at the Summit May 5th,” said coach and player Tom Yarman, of East Ridge. “We will go to state Senior Olympics July 22nd in Franklin. We were third in state last year.”
He said the Retreads will play in a double- elimination church league softball tournament in mid-June.