THUNDER BAY - With the warmer weather finally here, baseball fields across town will soon be filled with players from the many softball leagues in Thunder Bay. And now one segment of the population who did not have the opportunity to play before, are taking to the field in their very own league.
This summer, the 55-Plus Centre is hosting a softball league for people over the age of 55. Started by Randy Zaroski, who recently moved back to Thunder Bay from Oshawa, approached the 55-Plus Centre to help coordinate the league after seeing a growing interest in the sport locally.
“I heard there wasn’t a league out here and everybody said: well, start one,” Zaroski said. “A lot of people kept saying what a great idea it was. The numbers are a little lower than what I was hoping for. We would have liked to have had at least a four team league, but it looks like we might have about a two team league.”
More than 15 people came out on Thursday for a game. Zaroski said softball is a great game for people over the age of 55 because it isn’t as fast, and there are more people on the field.
“The ball doesn’t go as fast, it’s a slow pitch,” he said. “Because we’re all 55 we run slower so it’s an easier game to play. The ball doesn’t travel as fast so you don’t have to move as fast. We also play with 11 instead of nine so there is less space to cover and run. So it makes it an easier game.”
Vanenesa Marchese, a community program developer for the 55-Plus Centre, said the softball league is the newest of many other physical activity programs offered by the centre, including walking, shuffleboard, curling, skating, and the upcoming Northwest Senior Games in June.
“It’s important for everybody to keep healthy and keep moving,” she said. “This is a great place to meet new people, become new family, this is a great opportunity to do something fun.”
In a city that already has many softball and baseball leagues running throughout the summer, this is the first softball league in Thunder Bay specifically for people over the age of 55.
Zaroski said even though there are leagues for people over the age of 40, it can be difficult competition for someone in their 60s. So he hopes the new 55-plus league will get more and more people out to enjoy some fun and get some exercise.
“Most of the people out here seem to be first timers,” he said. “Some of them have never hit a ball before. They are doing quite well. We would love to see more people come out. The more people we can have, the better it will be.”
And there is no age limit in this league. Everyone is welcome to come out, from 55-years-old to 105-years-old.
“Our oldest player last year in the league I was in was 83-years-old,” Zaroski said. “He couldn’t run very well, but he could hit the ball really hard.”
Games are expected to be held every week on Thursday mornings. For more information, contact the 55-Plus Centre.
