“It is inspiring to see how these boys still play at 77 games and play well. You can only see how much experience and skills you bring,” says Slo-Pitch player from older teammates
Orillia -The Senior Softball team of the Orillia National Nutrition has his sights on a third title in a row in the league.
The players may be gray, their knees a little stiff, but don't be fooled – this is not a pickup team. This is the incumbent power plant of the Simoe Muskoka Senior Softball League (SMSSL).
“We choose the three-goal,” said the long-time team captain Wayne Martin, while we casually adapted the line-up from laundry clips on a sun-soaked Tuesday morning in the Tudope Park.
“We have won 13 of the last 15 years. And we really believe that we have the best defensive team from top to bottom.”
The history of the Orillia team begins with a backhand application of fate. Fifteen years ago, the local tennis professional Peter Koehli sent the media a hint to collect some aging ball players for a new team of senior team. But after just a few games, a blown elbow – luck for a tennis professional – forced him to step aside. He handed the reins to Martin, who never looked back.
“I just said:” Ok, I'll take it, “Martin recalled with a laugh.” And the rest is history. “
Since this modest start, the team has developed from a handful of hope in a close -meshed squad of 18 over 55, many with deep roots in orillia's competitive ball scene. Your success is no coincidence – it is the result of intelligent leadership, an integrative culture and a lot of love for the game.
“We have 18 boys on the squad, and if 14 or 15 appear every week. Everyone plays, all bats,” said Martin. “Nobody argues about their place in the line -up. It was always about the team.”
The SMSSL, which began as a modest collection of aging athletes from cities such as Huntsville and Bracebridge, has developed into a lively and extremely competitive racetrack. Today it includes teams from Orillia, Barrie, Wasaga Beach, Midland and others.
“The level of competition has definitely increased,” said Martin. “In the past, we made most of the teams slightly. Now Barrie came with two very good teams, Midland has just collected a few stallions, and even Wasaga and Bracebridge look sharper. It is a four-way race this year.”
But even if the league becomes more competitive, your heart remains rooted in accessibility and camaraderie. This means creative rules that prioritize security, sportiness and inclusiveness, as for yourself, like yourself, one-tier lead-offs, no slide and courtesy runners.
“When a player hits the ball through the infield to the grass, it is an automatic single,” said Martin. “In this way, people who cannot physically sprint to achieve the first basis can still be hit. We simply peel them and take over a runner.
From experienced Sluggers to glue veterans, the team has a mixture of personalities who feel like reunion every match day.
David Boatman, who helps to coordinate the outdoor field and the base, has been in a team for nine years.
“I love it because it keeps me in shape all year round,” said Boatman. “We are still 25 years old in our heads. And Hey, our team was so good that other teams started to keep Tryouts just to try to beat us.”
At the other end of the age spectrum, Rookie Mike Winacott, the youngest player in the team at the age of 55, is. He is two games in his first season and is already enthusiastic.
“It is inspiring to see how these boys still play at 77 games and play well,” said Winacott. “You can only see how much experience you bring. It's not about speed or strength – it is about strategy and about knowing the game inside out.”
For this group, softball is more than just a sport. It is ritual, publication and the glue of lifelong friendship. After each home game, the team gathers in the Bayside restaurant. On road trips you will stop pubs for beer, wings and laughter in local sponsor.
It is this sense of community that the group has led through installation turnover, knee operations and changing waists.
“We usually have sales of three or four players every year,” said Martin. “But this year we had 17 returning people. This is rare. We also took Mike because we know that two or three could stop it after this season.”
Several players also compete in other teams in the city, such as the Studenbakers Hengions of the Orillia Slo-Pitch League.
The connections run deep. Some players are now training their grandchildren, like Boatman, who trained his sons when they were young and now watches his granddaughter played the game at the age of seven.
“It's a game that you can play forever,” he said. “I know boys in Florida who play until the 90s.”
The focus of the team's identity and sustainability is the long -time sponsor of the National Nutrition.
“You have been with us for about 12 years,” said Martin. “You look good, help us to align for bats and equipment. You cannot underestimate how important this support is.”
In a league, in which Pride often means wearing the same team colors year after year, this type of support helps with the task of tradition.
When the season with alternating Tuesday morning Doubleheaders – a week in the Tudope Park in the Tudope Park, on the next street forward – is the goal of staying healthy, staying hot and winning another title.
But titles are only part of the draw. Ask for the shelter and you will hear stories of old rivalries, road trips, replicas and shared memories that have been above average for decades.
You will hear from the rules that are old, the teammates that have moved on, and the calm pride to simply appear and play the game properly.
“We are more of a family than just a team,” said Martin. “We stay in contact all year round. We know the children of the other, our grandchildren. And we still love to take part in competitions.”
There can be a time when the national nutrition team will finally hand over the flashlight to the next generation, but not yet. At the moment they will continue to step on the plate, crack the bank and prove that age does not give the heart.
“We are still here,” said Martin. “Still swinging.”
Orillia scored five runs in the bottom of the 7th inn, to squeeze a narrow 17:16 victory in the first of a double header with the Kage by Barrie from Barrie on Tuesday morning. The senior squad got a Homerun and a double from Brian Gardy, while Brent Ziliotto and Scott Fraser were perfect on the plate.
Rob Milligan and Wayne Martin shared Pitching tasks for both games. In the second competition, the defense was strong and led to a 10: 4 victory.
Orillia will travel to Barrie next week to face Chucks Road House, the other Barrie team, with hope to maintain the top position in the Muskoka Senior Softball League.