Senior Softball Games Every Wednesday
“If you build it, they will come.”
To paraphrase “Field of Dreams” is the only way to describe the players in the Greater Madison Senior Softball league. Opening day for the third season is set for May 9th at Goodman Park, as seniors will arrive from all throughout southern Wisconsin to revel in their love of the game.
“We figured, we couldn’t be the only ones our age in all of Madison who still wanted to run around the field,” says Ray Blum, 65, who started the league in 2010 with his childhood best friend, Bob Ruhland, 64. “So we built the league from the ground up to relive our glory days, while making great new memories.”
In this “field of dreams,” there is no age limit. Just ask Chuck Harris, who at 84 years young still managed to be a mighty fine catcher for part of 2011 (and plans to be back for 2012- as a coach). And, back this year is two time cancer survivor Jose Diaz at 57, who coins the phrase “You never know when you’re gonna go-you’re not too old till you’re too cold”. Jose is very grateful that he can play.
Initially, Blum and Ruhland thought maybe they’d get enough players to field two teams, maybe three. However, they met overwhelming success when demand rocketed up to a full 10 team league last year. And this year, they have reached their goal of 12 teams with 15 or 16 players apiece.
“The only thing in common with this group is they’re over 55, and they absolutely love the game,” says Ruhland. “We have players from near and far, young seniors and old seniors, retirees and nine-to-fivers. It’s softball, it’s a universal love, and these players had nowhere to play. Now they do.” The league is for senior men 55 years old or older, but not limited to the Madison area.
Making the league a possibility is Smart Motors, who serves as the sole sponsor of the GMSSL.
“Much like these players, Smart Motors has decades of experience and is breaking new and exciting ground every day,” says Allen Foster, Vice President/General Manager of Smart Motors, the chief sponsor of GMSSL. “When Ray and Bob told us this league was history in the making, we knew we had to get on board.”
Regular league games will take place every Wednesday at 8:30am starting on Opening Day, May 9th, at Goodman Park, 1402 Wingra Creek Pkwy. For more information, check out the leagues website at http://www.greatermadisonseniorsoftball.com.
