These seniors are still on the ball

Softball has been in Maury Wilson’s blood for a long time.

The Ridgefield resident played for 21 years during his military career, and later hooked up with the Vancouver Metro Senior Softball Association (VMSSA). Wilson began his senior playing days as a shortstop and continued for several years, even after having hip replacement surgery in 2003.

After the operation, his doctor advised him to switch to third base to avoid contact likely at the shortstop position. Wilson laughs at the change, saying he got hit by runners even more at that position. He played through age 85.

“At 85 he was better than a lot of us,” said league organizer Leon Speroff, himself a youngster of 79.

Both men consider the senior league more than a pleasant diversion. They believe it’s a way to stay as young as possible for as long as possible.

“Senior softball is about healthy aging,” said Speroff, a retired professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Oregon Health & Science University. “It requires both physical and mental activity and it gives us incentive to work out and stay in shape. We know we’re fortunate to play a kids’ game at our age.”

For Wilson, it was also about relationships with teammates.

“There’s a lot of camaraderie,” he said.

Now league officials are beginning a fundraising drive to improve things by building their own field. The impetus is because the Clark College women’s soccer team has begun using their current field. The league signed a contract with Clark County to receive five acres of land at Pacific Community Park in Vancouver free of charge.

The catch is that it will cost an estimated $439,000 to build the field, including fencing, topsoil, seeding, irrigation, dugouts and benches, field equipment, a scoreboard, and a parking lot expansion to accommodate 64 more vehicles. Speroff said the agreement, signed in September, gives the league a year to raise the needed money and another year to finish construction.

He emphasized that while the league will use the field during evenings, it will be open to community and youth groups at other times. About $38,000 was raised in three weeks from players, with plans to attract additional sponsorships from firms that will have their corporate name on the scoreboard or dugouts. The nonprofit league also is considering naming the field for a major corporate sponsor, although that will require approval from Clark County officials.

Various levels of smaller donations are available – described as as a single, double, triple or home run depending on the amount given. Grants are also being sought.

The league began in 1994 when VMSSA improved an old baseball field on Clark College land. League play started with four teams a year later. During 2014, 150 players ages 60 and older played on nine teams.

Participation is open to men and women, and Speroff said one woman played during the past season.

He added that having a home field not shared with another organization in the evenings will improve the safety of playing conditions. It also will help ease the growing demand for softball practice and game fields, as well as serving as a site for tournaments and all-star games.

“We’re building a field that will be ours,” Wilson said. “We’re building something for future generations.”

He said the county will water and cut grass on the field, and league members will drag the infield to make it smooth. Wilson said having an artificial turf infield would be “safer for a bunch of old goats like us,” but added the extra price of $150,000 is probably prohibitive.

Wilson, who is one of a half-dozen Ridgefield residents who play in the league, noted that Speroff has written two books about senior softball that are sold online. “Slow Pitch Therapy” chronicles Speroff’s battle with lymphoma and knee injuries.

“He had knee replacements and he beat terrible cancer,” Wilson said.

Any men or women who meet the age requirement and want to play next year are welcome, Speroff said. The season runs from late May until September, and each team plays two seven-inning games one night per week. It costs $60 per person to join.

For more information about the league, or about donating to the fundraising effort, contact Speroff at (503) 621-3331 or lsperoff@msncom or contact Wilson at (360) 887-4414.

Speroff, who lives in Oregon, said he wouldn’t miss the weekly contests.

“It’s a long drive for me to go to games, but it’s worth it,” he said.