Some seniors move south when winter comes to the Delaware coast, seeking to live more comfortably. But a handful of area elders have made the cross-country trek to St. George, Utah, for the Huntsman games to see if they are worthy to move onto the World Series of Softball.
Dagsboro’s Old Tymer’s Softball League has not only provided local seniors the opportunity to play ball every week but also to compete and succeed at the national level.
The Delaware Naturals twice have won the senior state softball championships, which sent them to the regional tournament. But this year marks the first year that they’ve advanced past the Eastern United States National Softball Championship — earning the chance to play in Utah.
The Naturals placed second in the Pittsburg National Senior Olympics this past summer and are currently looking to improve on that standing — but not before feeling the other side of defeat.
The Naturals’ first-round game was against the Milwaukee contingent that they beat to win the Eastern National Championships, but they were unable to regain their success. They lost 9-6 due to throwing errors. But the Naturals’ resiliency kept them in the game and still in the tournament.
The Naturals would have to negate five first-inning Milwaukee runs but a league miscue would temporarily derail their comeback, according to OTS organizer and Naturals player Roger Howard.
“Our pitcher, Bob Galegian, hit a double and the other team challenged our bat, the Miken Freak,” said Howard. “OTS plays under ASA rules, but the World Series plays under NSA rules and Freak bats are illegal according to the NSA. We simply didn’t know that.”
Despite the setback, the Naturals would mount a charge, but it came too late. Pete Rendina went 2-2 with a homerun. Howard also went 2-2 with a triple, and Frank Williams belted two singles in three at-bats.
The Naturals rebounded following the loss to Milwaukee to win their next two games and give the team a first-round bye in the quarterfinals.
They “finally got going,” according to Howard, in the game against Denver by winning 17-10, with almost every player getting on base. Rendina again led the team on 2-3 hitting with a homerun while Howard, Don Edwards, Jim Wright and Bill Howlett all chipped in with two singles apiece.
The Naturals kept the ball rolling against the host team and beat St. George’s Utah 14-9, which earned them their bye. Williams earned three in the win, while Rendina, Wright and Bob Schaffer each added two hits.
Five-run innings in both the third and fourth innings were good enough to push the Naturals past their opponents. The Naturals were set to play the winner of the St. Alberts, Canada, versus Tucson, Ariz., game at 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 12, with the result coming in after Coastal Point press time.