Some of the men on the Senior Softball Team in Shawano have been playing since 2001.
“It seems like it was yesterday,” said Don Meyer, one of the original organizers.
Bill Schmidt, who now lives in Green Bay, started the team in Shawano after he played in Arizona. Other original players still participating are Bob Kurkiewicz, Don Raddant and Henry Schultz.
After putting an article in the paper, six guys showed up for the first practice. It didn’t take long for other guys to join the team, however.
“We picked up players here and there,” Meyer said. “We got enough to have a team.”
For several years, the team played in a league and traveled to Green Bay and Oshkosh for two games in each city.
“We got to a point where we had too many players,” Meyer said.
So they stopped traveling and did their own game every week, dividing the players into two teams by drawing numbers.
“Every week we had different teams,” Meyer said. “It’s been unbelievable. We keep on because we enjoy each other’s company and to have a little organized competition. We still are competitive at our age.”
Some weeks they’ve had as many as 33 players show up. Even so, everyone gets to play the entire game.
Kurkiewicz said more players are always welcome.
“The pluses are the camaraderie,” he said. “Many of us played against each other before.”
The oldest player is 94-year-old Bob Voss, who serves as an inspiration to all the other guys.
“We have modified rules primarily for safety,” Kurkiewicz said. “There is no sliding, no collisions, no plays at the plate, and first base is extended. Any batter can have a courtesy runner.”
Previous experience doesn’t matter either.
“Some guys have never played before,” Kurkiewicz said. “This is not a skilled league.”
Each player donates $5, which is used for beverages, at the start of the season.
Mike Schuler’s wife, Melissa, whom they all call Honey, is a special assistant who keeps score and hands out the numbered slips that determines which team they play on.
Meyer and Kurkiewicz said the team is appreciative of the Recreation Department, which keeps the diamond in shape and gives them used balls.
The team plays at 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Memorial Athletic Park in Shawano.
For more information, call Meyer at 715-745-6695 or Kurkiewicz at 715-526-2690.
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