The cliché goes that in the spring, a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of love (and baseball, someone added.) As we discover, those fancies of the young are not very different from those of older men. They too dream of being young again. Some, however, do something about it.

While baseball may be a distant memory, slow-pitch or arc softball is what many seniors will say creates that quickening of the heart and the memory of a well-turned double play or a great catch in a tight spot. For about 60 men in Lower Bucks County, each spring, smiles return to their faces, along with a hop in the step as they meet twice a week in the Lower Makefield area to play competitive but fun-filled softball.

Bob Johnson, manager of Puss ‘N’ Boots, says, “It’s the idea of getting out of the house with something we love doing but it’s really about being with a bunch of great guys and you can kid them as you pass between innings and tease them about how lucky their catch was to rob you of a hit. We all do that and have great fun but that doesn’t stop us from playing hard the next inning to do the same. We still have those competitive juices but in the end, we just love being out here.”

Ray Giberson, another Puss ‘N’ Boots player added, “I love hitting and could stand up there all day and hit but it’s also fun to go out to the field and be able to scoop up a low throw too. It never gets old.” 

The Bucks-Mercer County Senior Softball League has been in existence for over 10 years. Currently, there are four teams who meet every Tuesday and Thursday morning from late April though the playoffs in mid-October. The minimum age limit is 65 (though the vast majority are in their 70’s) and the maximum is anybody’s guess! A number of players also work out in the winter months each Tuesday and Thursday morning at a batting range in Bensalem.

Paul Oleyard, a fleet-footed outfielder said, “It’s a great way to stay in shape and keep my eye on the ball until the weather permits going outside in April. How can you beat this kind of workout for a little over an hour for the five bucks we pay?” The group usually has 10 to 12 players at each session and, using two batting cages and pitching machines, each player may get as many as 150 swings during the session.

Bob Johnson added, “Yeah, sometimes I pitch in one of the cages just to give that game simulation. Some guys also finish up by throwing for five minutes, just to keep the arm loose.”

Bob Rodgers of the Renegades talked about the end of the regular season.

“Yeah, we finish up at a beautiful time of the year in late September. The fields are in great shape and the weather is wonderful. All four teams make the playoffs but the tone changes just a bit as our desire to do well rises a notch. It’s just a beautiful way to end the season in mid-October.”

Giberson added, “Yeah and some of us love playing so much that we play ‘down the city’ on other teams on Mondays and Fridays.”

Bob Johnson, sounding philosophical, said, “Every time I step onto the green grass, I am reminded of what we all say: ‘It’s so much better to be above the grass than below it.’ I am grateful every day I can get to do this because it won’t last forever.”

All interested players are invited to come out and join the group and feel great again with some healthy physical activity and good companionship.

Call Jim Mahoney at 267-566-2919 (campyhits@aol.com) or Bob Johnson at 215-757-7249 (bobbyjohn66@comcast.net).