A member of the Scenic City Senior Softball League makes a play at first base.Participants call it “a league of their own,” but the newly created Scenic City Senior Softball League isn’t just for women, and it’s definitely not for sissies.
With longtime athletes and at least one former professional baseball player, the new league comprised of four teams and more than 100 players is a place for anyone age 60 and up to come out and play ball.
“It’s a place for people who are still active and alive at 65,” said participant and coach Tom Card. “We’d all been out there playing in church leagues with kids that were 16, 19 or 22 and just get slaughtered by those young kids. By the time we got to the Senior Olympics, we were all beat up.”
Ken Griffin, a participant who helped organize the league, said it was formed in part to give players a level playing field but it also focuses on providing a safe experience for older players. Several precautions have been added to the diamond, like double bases to help players avoid collisions while playing.
“There’s a focus on safety but it’s still highly competitive,” said Griffin. “We’ve got people coming back to play who haven’t been able to play for 15 years or so.”