Play ball! Senior softball returns

They started later than planned, sit a little farther from each another than before and stop most of their high-fives before contact, but the seniors of summer are back.

The Ozaukee Senior Softball League kicked off last Thursday at Centennial Park in Grafton, about a month later due to the coronavirus, and another week later thanks to Mother Nature. It rained May 28.

“Fantabulous” is how Senior Tigers team member Paul Turowski of Grafton described getting back on the diamond with his friends.

For his teammate Steve Yoder of the Town of Cedarburg, the season represents a return to normalcy.

“It’s nice just to catch up with the guys and stretch your legs,” he said.

Their teammate Ron Kronforst of Grafton had been working from home instead of commuting to downtown Milwaukee and couldn’t go to his gym because it was closed. He looked forward to getting outside and being active again.

“It feels very good,” he said.

Senior Tigers Manager Pat Tearney summed up the players’ sentiments.

“I think a lot of people have kind of been cooped up. This is really a fun league for these guys,” he said.

Behind some of that fun is league President Dennis Loberger of Grafton.

“I wrote four schedules,” he said, “because we weren’t sure what Covid-19 would do.”

Loberger always makes out two schedules as a precautionary measure, but this year added two more.

He talked to a doctor who told him he was excited the league was starting this early. Loberger had fielded opinions from players on when the league should begin.

Games could have started before May 21, but Gov. Tony Evers’ Safer at Home order was overturned by the state Supreme Court too late for Loberger to create another new schedule.

Still, Loberger was uncertain how things would go, especially since the players’ ages put them in the high-risk category for the coronavirus. The league allows people 55 and older who live in Ozaukee County to play. Players who move out of the county are allowed, as long as they lived in the county when they started playing.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” he said. “You want to make sure everybody feels comfortable.”

It turned out 97 players signed up, one short of the league maximum. Seven teams are each allowed 14 players.

The league made some adjustments to try to limit the spread of germs. The umpire stands as far from the catcher and batter as possible and more benches have been added so players can sit several feet apart.

“We’re outside. You can’t be safer than outside,” Loberger said.

Jim’s Grille Manager Jim Newton of Grafton had surgery on both of his knees in January and is waiting a couple of weeks before he returns to play. But he was happy just to come to the ballpark.

“It’s fun. Glad to get back,” he said.

“A few guys were worried about the virus but with the social distancing it worked well.”

Jim’s Grille left-fielder Rich Rodriguez of Saukville said he works outside so being out in the warm sun last Thursday evening wasn’t a big deal. But playing ball was.

“It’s always great. Anxiety is still there before the game,” he said. “The pulled muscles aren’t as fun anymore.”

Virus or not, the teams change each season. New teams are chosen every year in a snake draft.

Bathrooms were open at the shelter, alleviating the need for portable toilets.

“The next thing they need is the beer,” Newton said.