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Senior softball: ‘Camaraderie as much as it is competitive’

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Dan Simmers is congratulated by his teammates after making the final out in the inning. From left are: Chuck Gigliotti, Armand Castelli, Dan Simmers and Bob Wagler.

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Bob Gigliotti of Belle Vernon makes contact at a recent South Hills Senior Men’s Softball League game.

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Bob Gigliotti of Belle Vernon streaks for home while the catcher awaits the throw during South Hills Senior Men’s Softball League playoff action.

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Mike Delehanty rounds third and heads for home while Doug Whitney awaits the throw from the outfield.

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Chuck Neumeyer delivers a pitch to the plate during South Hills Senior Men’s Softball League playoff action.

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Ken Unico

Sometimes the South Hills Senior Men’s Softball League can seem more like a “comedy” of errors.

“It’s like Abbott and Costello,” said Tom Bridges, whose nickname is Rocky after the infielder who played from 1951-61 for a variety of American League teams. “Nobody knows who’s on first or what’s on second. And, I don’t know is on third. But we have a lot fun.”

Indeed, a lot of fun goes on between April and September at Texas Field in South Park. And many of the players, ages 55 and older, don’t know their teammates’ last names. But they do have a blast.

The eight teams are either named for the color of a team’s shirts or by the first names of the managers. There’s the orange or the blue team; Carl’s or Bob’s squad.

The roughly 112 players in the league – team rosters include as many as 14 players – agree on one thing.

“Best thing I’ve done since I was 12,” said Bob Hagerty.

Now 61, Hagerty plays right field for Ed’s (Rostek) team.

A North Dakota native, Hagerty played baseball as a kid but gave up the sport as a teenager. When he moved to Mt. Lebanon, he learned about the league through his neighbor, Ken Unico, who has been a member for years. Unico manages a team with Bob Gigliotti from Belle Vernon.

Because of his occupation – he writes for the Wall Street Journal – Hagerty was unable to join the league until this season. His beat changed from covering manufacturing to writing obituaries, affording him the opportunity to compete.

“I wanted to (play) but my job was very unpredictable,” he explained. “I never knew when my day would end.”

In the summer, Hagerty’s days end in nine-inning games among many new acquaintances. During the regular season, games are played Monday through Friday evenings. The playoffs are more accommodating, Unico said, because the league wants squads to be at full strength. Though his team was eliminated from postseason play, Hagerty showed up for the championship games earlier this month.

“I enjoy watching and I know a lot of the guys,” he said. “It’s interesting.”

Games are always just that.

“Anything can happen,” said Sheila Unico, Ken’s wife. She’s a loyal follower and cheerleader for the Blue club. Cowbell in hand, she rings it after a stellar play or successful at bat.

There were plenty of sensational plays Sept. 17, when the team managed by Steve Koslow defeated Chuck Neumeyer’s squad, 13-12, to claim the 2017 championship. Neumeyer’s team, which had the best record for the season, took an early lead in the finale, but spectacular running catches by Koslow and Tim Thomas kept the opposition in the game. The score was tied going into the bottom of the ninth.

“Both teams played a great game with lead changes throughout the game,” said Doug Houston, commissioner of the league, which was started in 1983 by Frank Barton and Tom Hartman with only four teams. “But in the end Steve’s team made the plays they needed to make to secure the win.”

Friends for life

After the games, the fun doesn’t stop. The league recently held its end-of-the-year catered picnic for all players and managers. Plus, many of them also participate together in other activities, such as bowling, hiking, biking, golfing, volleyball and basketball.

“It’s a nice, friendly league. Everybody gets along,” said Neumeyer, who has pitched or played second base in the league for five years and managed for four. “We go out and have a beer after the games. We bowl. We play poker.”

“It’s friendship all year round,” added Unico. “It’s camaraderie as much as it is competitive. As you get older, and maybe you drop out of the workforce, you start to lose your connections with people. So it’s a great way to meet people and stay active.”

All of their lives, Unico and Gigliotti have been active athletically. They also been best friends for “years and years” because of their affinity for tennis. Back in the 1970s, they reigned as runner-up Allegheny County doubles champions.

When his joints started to give out, Gigliotti started looking into alternative activities. He searched for a league and stumbled upon “an article in a little newspaper” that advertised for new members and he joined the South Hills Senior Softball League in midseason. The following year, Gigliotti’s brother, Chuck, and Unico joined and started playing together on the same team.

“Bob talked me into playing because my knees were starting to give out in tennis,” Unico said. “I was playing six days a week up until 50. But the knees can only last so long doing that.”

“This is a little easier on the knees,” Bob emphasized.

Not so much on the hamstrings. Gigliotti noted that the younger players – those in their mid-50s who have just joined the league – have a tendency to get hurt if they don’t ease into playing.

“The youngest guys still think they are king of the mountain,” he said, “and they can play like they used to. The old guys don’t pull muscles anymore. It’s just the new guys. So we caution them whenever we can. ‘Slow down, take it easy’ It’s amazing.”

Amazing is the fact the league has an 87-year-old player and it reports few injuries. Besides the hamstring pull, there was a broken finger and hand, as well as a bumped head because of a fall.

“This game ain’t for sissies,” said Neil Sheridan, a pitcher from Castle Shannon.

Rules of engagement

Safety is built into the rules and action.

For example, there are two bases at first; an orange and a white one. The first baseman must put his foot on the white base, located in fair territory. If there is a play at first base, the runner must touch the orange base, located on the foul side of the base line. If he touches the white base, he’s out. And vice versa.

“The object of that is to prevent collisions,” Unico said. “You have quick bang-bang plays at first and you don’t want people running into each other.”

At the plate, there is a blue carpet to the right of the batter for the runner to tag. If he steps on the plate, then he is out. The catcher stands on the white plate and if he catches the ball before the runner reaches the carpet, then he is out. The catcher doesn’t need to tag the runner.

Additionally, if a batter hits a ball to the outfield, he cannot be thrown out at first base.

“Some of the guys are slower now but they can still hit the ball really well, but they are not fast anymore. Maybe they have bad knees, bad ankles, bad hips,” Unico explained.

No player, however, has a bad time or a bad team. A draft is held each spring to ensure parity and assure unity.

“The draft balances it out to make the team’s fair but since every year you have a different team, everybody gets to know each other,” Neumeyer said. “It’s a very competitive league but there’s not much arguing during the game. It’s mainly a fun time. I don’t think you are going to find a better league or a better bunch of guys.”

Gigliotti agreed. He noted that the players may be “past their prime” but “they love the game.”

Unico added there are many men who haven’t played in 30 years while working or raising families.

“They had to drop out from playing because they had kids,” he said. “This is a chance for them to get back in the game. They really enjoy it.”

“It’s a blast,” Gigliotti concluded.

The South Hills Senior Softball league is looking for new members for the 2018 season. Men must be age 55 or older. For more details email dohouston@gmail.com or call 412-220-0250. Interested players can also visit seniorsoftballleague.com for more information.

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