The secret to senior softball? It’s all about the magic bat
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Softball shaman
Once I saw how fun senior softball was, I tried to find ways to get extra practice. A younger woman I knew invited me to a pickup game she played in.
These were young people, mostly in their 20s and 30s. They were good players, much better than I was.
When it came time for me to bat, I used my new senior softball bat and hit a deep ball into left field. Everyone was like, “Wow, you really got a hold of that one.”
The next time I was up, I hit another deep ball. People were surprised, shocked even.
“It’s the bat,” I told them. “It’s a senior softball bat.”
They had never heard of such a thing. They wanted to see it. I showed them the little inscription that said: Senior Softball-USA.
“It’s a special design,” I said. “It’s bouncier. Like a trampoline.”
They all felt the bat. They studied it. It didn’t look any different than their bats.
“Try it,” I told them. So they did. One guy, who could already hit the ball a mile, hit the ball a mile.
Another guy couldn’t seem to get a hit with it. He seemed perplexed and somewhat disturbed that there was a special bat for old people.
Another guy got a solid hit, but he didn’t seem particularly impressed. All these guys were really good hitters to start with. My special bat didn’t seem to do that much for them.
I said, “Maybe you have to be a senior to activate the technology.”
Team dream
I made it through that first season. It was a great experience. And being around my teammates reminded me how much skill and competence your average person over 50 represents.
Like the senior softball bat: They had integrated this new technology into their sport in just the right amount. It didn’t significantly alter the game; it just made it a little more fun.
But being on a team. That was the best part. I’ve been a writer all my life. Sitting in a room. By myself. Thinking my thoughts.
What a relief to be with the guys. On a beautiful spring day. In the dugout. With my magic bat.
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