Ralph Lambert Senior Softball League of Lake Norman
Special Article written by the Charlotte Observer.
Posted on Thursday, Jun. 29, 2006 in The Charlotte Observer
Older players answer call of the diamond
Fledgling senior softball league seeks men and women who love the game
JOE HABINA Special Correspondent
Their hair is graying. It's harder now to take an extra base on a ball hit in the gap. But when it comes to effort and enthusiasm, some of these softball players can match those half their age. At two months into its inaugural season, the Lake Norman Senior Softball League is still looking for more players so they can organize a couple of teams. Dan Shea is one of at least four University City area residents on a roster
of nearly 40 players, said founding member Ralph Lambert. For the past two years, Shea has spent part of his time at his winter home in Sarasota, Fla., playing softball in a league for senior citizens. Because he had never found a similar league in the Charlotte area in 20 years, his softball equipment took up permanent residency at his Florida condo.But when he became a member of the fledgling league here last spring, Shea, a 68-year-old Davis Lake resident, had to scramble for gear. He relaced a 45-year-old glove lying around his house and he is substituting his golf shoes for cleats.
The league's workouts have typically drawn between 15 and 20 players. The players meet twice a week at parks in northern Mecklenburg County for informal practices and scrimmages. Participation is free. League members are optimistic that they'll build enough numbers to organize a few teams. They remain pioneers, waiting patiently for their contemporaries to catch word that the league is open.
Since February, Lambert, 76, has tried to spark interest in forming a league for senior citizens around the Charlotte area. Ultimately, he wants to see three divisions -- one for players ages 45 and older, one for 55 and up, and one for 65-up. He organized a senior league in his native Pittsburgh about 25 years ago
that eventually grew to 23 teams, and he believes he can duplicate that success here. When he moved to Cornelius in the spring of 2005 to be closer to his sons and their families, he was eager to keep playing. But he found very few opportunities. He found a south Charlotte group last summer that played every Saturday
morning. But Lambert wanted to be part of something bigger. This spring, he organized meetings with parks and recreation officials from Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, and Mooresville. They told Lambert they could make some playing fields available if he would organize the leagues. When prospective players were asked to gather for the first time in early May, only about 10 showed up.
"I found it discouraging at the time," Lambert said. "I told the guys we have to do better, we have to talk it up. I talk to people at church and in the grocery store. It's the only way we can get it going." The senior softball league now plays at North Mecklenburg Park in Huntersville on Wednesday evenings and at Cornelius' Torrence Chapel Park on Saturday mornings. There are about 15 players that consistently participate, but attendance is inconsistent. The ages of players range from the early 50s to the mid-70s. There are also a few women who have signed up.
"These guys are the most welcoming, friendly, interesting bunch of guys," said Barb Scott, 54, of Cornelius. "I mean it's just fun. They're all rooting for me." Most players are from the Huntersville-Cornelius area, but some travel in.Darrell Waugh, 72, makes a 40-minute commute from Dallas, N.C. Many of them say they have played softball for a long time but, like Lambert, had a hard time finding a place to play. Some are recent transplants to the Charlotte area who came from cities with established senior leagues. Others are natives whose opportunities narrowed as they aged."I moved here less than two years ago," said Mark Haisfield, 58, of Cornelius. "In Maryland -- we lived in a D.C. suburb -- there are so many softball leagues. You could play coed, any age, whatever you wanted. I came here and there just didn't seem to be a steady thing for seniors."
Jim Howell, from Charlotte, is one of several Lake Norman League players who also play on a senior traveling tournament team. He's one of the more athletic members of the Lake Norman League and plays like a man about 20 years younger than his 64 years. "We have a lot of fun getting together," said Howell. "It's a good place to come out and practice with guys your own age." A lot of the players talk about how much fun they're having. But their competitive side comes out with equal enthusiasm.
Last Saturday at Torrence Chapel Park, Waugh, playing second base, laid out or a grounder to his right as if his team was protecting a one-run lead in the ninth inning. He came up with his front side covered in brown dust but his glove empty.
Bill Mullis, a tall, strapping, 54-year-old left-handed hitter from Cornelius, popped a pitch that missed clearing the right field fence 300 feet away by only a couple feet. After his line drive reached the bottom of
the fence on his next at-bat, a couple of cohorts started giving him the Bronx cheer. "He's too young," joked Shea from the dugout. "Check his age," chided another.
Want To Play?
The Lake Norman Senior Softball League is seeking men and women age 50 and older to participate. There are no geographic limits on players and there is currently no cost to play, although a nominal fee may be charged in the future to offset the cost of uniforms and equipment.
For details, call Dave White at 704-766-2230 or email at dwhite@huntersville.org
About The Lake Norman Senior Team. Back in early 2006 Ralph Lambert from Cornelius started to recruit softball players from ages 45 and up to start different age groups of teams that would play against different teams in different places.
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