A Team of HEROES

Posted On March 25, 2024

By the Coach’s Wife

A hero is, “An individual who acts unselfishly and who demands more from himself or herself than others would expect.” Other words for heroic are dauntless, brave and courageous. A hero is someone who is an inspiration because of their grit and determination.

All of the above perfectly describes what I have seen demonstrated by the Holiday RV Village Division 6B softball teammates in the past six months.

You may see a team of “Senior Misfits.”

I see a team of Heroes

The Weekly Grind

Holiday RV Village is a 55+ community in Leesburg, Florida. Among their many activities, they have four men’s and one women’s traveling softball teams. https://covecommunities.com/rv-resorts/florida/holiday-rv-village/

The Sun and Fun league season runs from November through March. Each team plays twice a week against teams from other communities for a total of 30 regular-season, 8-inning games followed by a double elimination tournament. They also practice one day a week.

This type of schedule might not sound so bad until you realize all the teammates range in age from 55 to 84!

WHOA! Bet I got your attention with that detail!

How It Began for Us

We first started coming to Holiday RV Village in 2017 for the first couple of months of the year. My husband, Jim, quickly became involved in playing volleyball most every morning of the week and playing on the intramural softball team on Sunday afternoons. He enjoyed both.

However, after watching many of the league softball games, he decided he’d like to play on one of the 4 league teams.

Even though I wasn’t too keen on being away from home so many months, I encouraged him to try out for a team since he really wanted to and I thought staying so physically active would be good for him.

He was drafted by the D6B team in 2021 and actively played as the pitcher and/or 3rd baseman the first season. They ended the season by being the tournament champions.

2022-23

Because the team had such a good previous year, the league committee moved the team up to D6A. When a team moves up, it means they will compete against better players. Also, since the team had won so many games the previous year, the D4 park team drafted four of the better players to be on their team, leaving D6 with less talent.

Needless to say, the second year didn’t go as well. D6B had a losing season. Some teammates thought it might help to have a different coach. This resulted in my husband being elected the team coach for the 2023-24 season. He was hesitant but accepted and immediately started worrying about who to draft and who would be upset with him for not making the team.

2023-24

Because they had a losing record in 2022-23, the team was moved back down to D6B.

There were some very disappointed men who were not drafted by the new coach for this season. There were some unhappy players who did not get to play as much as they wanted throughout the season. There was a constantly worried coach who made these decisions. Those who truly loved the game, continued to show up as fans, to coach a base or sit on the bench hoping for some playing time. As the coach’s wife, I served as substitute scorekeeper, allowing me to stay in the dugout. As the coach’s wife, I listened to stories about teammates. I listened to the coach’s debates with himself and with the assistant coach about who would be the best player for each position in any given game. These opportunities helped me get to know each player better.

What I learned is the team is a group of HEROES.

The 2023-24 softball season just ended last Saturday when the team got 2nd place in the league tournament.

Heroism Shown Despite Hardships, Injuries, Illness and Worries

I recently shared some team pictures and a video on social media. Predictably, some of my husband’s friends back home commented about how they looked like they were playing in slow motion or looked like a group of “Senior Misfits.”

I see so much more! I see teammates who act unselfishly, and who demand more from himself or herself than others would expect. They are dauntless, brave and courageous. I’m inspired by their grit and determination. I see a team of HEROES.

This group of 55+ teammates battled it out to win the division’s championship and place second in the year-end tournament despite many obstacles.

I see a man who, while bicycling, was hit by a car just a week before the first game. Many bones in his ankle/foot were broken requiring surgery. Instead of playing, he showed up in a boot, then a brace, and then in his Crocs so he could coach 3rd base and constantly cheer on his teammates.

I see many teammates who battled shoulder, knee, back, and hamstring pain throughout the season.

I see a teammate bringing her mentally handicapped adult daughter to every game. I see teammates and fans smile when Brittany would yell, “Go Mom!”

I see teammates who wanted to win at all costs get along with those who just played for fun.

I see a teammate who only missed two games after breaking a bone in his foot.

I see veterans who bravely served our country but now suffer from PTSD and exposure to Agent Orange.

I see a teammate who missed half the season due to his wife’s brain surgery. Upon late arrival, I see her cheering on the team relieving the worries of many.

I see a teammate who had emergency open heart surgery last spring. Determined to continue playing, he started this season as a designated hitter, then playing the outfield and by season’s end running the bases.

I see a teammate overcome a poor attitude to become the team’s most positive player constantly cheering on his teammates.

I see a teammate who has an aneurysm that must grow larger before the doctors will operate. Consequently, he could only coach bases. Later in the season, I see him asking if he could at least bat, which he did.

I see teammates run out of breath running, limp around the bases or have their entire body tremble after running.

I see a teammate with a form of cystic fibrosis who is the starting pitcher. I see his physical-therapist wife deliver his inhaler to him in the dugout between innings.

I see an 84-year-old shortstop who has played 30 seasons of softball at Holiday swoop down to get the ball and fire it to first base to get the batter out. I see this 84-year-old serve as one of the team’s runners!

I see teammates continue to show up despite getting very little playing time.

I see my husband, the coach and teammate, who wants to be best at everything he does. I see him get upset because he can’t throw as far as he used to. I see a man who agonized about who to play, and in what position, for every game. I see a man who took responsibility. I see a man who coached to win. I see an impatient man who did a lot of grumbling but a lot of smiling when they won.

I see a Team of Heroes

I see a team made up of people between the ages of 55-84 who think they should be as good as they ever were, but deep down know they can’t be. I see a group of people who want to win as bad as they did when they were younger.

I see a group of people with varying former careers including teacher, farmer, floral designer and auto plant worker who came from various locations including Missouri, Kentucky, Michigan, Queens New York, and Canada. I see them come together and become good friends because of their determination to play softball.

I see teammates who I admire for their grit and determination.

I see HEROES!

LOL Parting Words

In addition to being entertained by the games being played, I also was entertained by things I heard throughout the season. Here are a few —

“Don’t make cabbage out of celery.” – A teammate to another as they were going out to bat.

“Got my tongue in my ear again.” – Said by an announcer after he repeatedly called a player by the wrong name.

“I’ll say it again folks. There’s nowhere else you’ll have this much fun with your clothes on.” – Said by an announcer at the end of a game.

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