It’s a hot and humid day in late July, and most seniors are relaxing by the pool. However, the seniors of the Town of Brookhaven’s senior softball league, 65 plus division, are warming up, stretching, and performing their otherwise normal pre-game routine in preparation for playing not one, but two seven inning games.
The action occurs every Tuesday and Thursday morning, behind Grace Presbyterian Church, on Hawkins Road in Selden. First pitch is 9:30 am sharp, after the players remove their caps, face the flag and recite the pledge of allegiance.
Brookhaven Town sponsors two senior leagues: age 60 and over, and 65 and over. The 65 and over is affectionately known as the “super seniors.” The league has been in existence since the 1980s and is still going strong, with 101 players participating for the 2022 season. Women are welcome to join as well.
Pete Eaton, of the Brookhaven Town Parks and Recreation Department, has the role of coordinating the 18 teams in the 60 plus league and the five teams in the 65 plus division. The Town is responsible for providing the playing fields, field maintenance, umpires and official scorers. The players submit a fee to participate each season.
Pre-season began in early April, with opening day taking place on May 10. The five super senior teams, the Eagles, Kingsmen, Patriots, Stars and Statesmen play two seven-inning games twice a week. Playoffs begin in late August and last about a week. Last year, the Kingsmen won it all. At the conclusion of the season, players get to vote for rookie of the year, MVP and even a sportsmanship award. Eaton further elaborated that while there are currently five teams, there are plans to add a sixth team next season. Players can volunteer to form the sixth team.
Assistant league president Vic Scalone explained that the 65 plus senior league was created to provide an opportunity for older players to continue playing with less restrictive rules than the 60 plus league. Scalone gives credit to former player Tom Farrell, who originally came up with the idea to start the new league. Each season, new players can join, begin practicing, and enter a draft in early May where each team typically gets several picks to add to their roster.
The rules for the super seniors are designed to accommodate the players, keep everyone safe and enable the most participants possible. There are “courtesy” runners who can run for a hitter or any player on base. Three balls earn the hitter a walk, while two strikes (or a strike and two fouls) result in a strikeout. There are twelve fielders allowed, five in the outfield and seven in the infield, including the pitcher and catcher. Players can be substituted in the field at the manager’s discretion.
On most Wednesdays, a non-game day, there is a player’s breakfast at a local diner, where players can get together and chat softball or whatever else is on their mind.
While the games are competitive, the camaraderie on the field is palpable, and safety is always a concern. Proper decorum is expected of all players and is typically not an issue. Good-natured teasing is common. Both teams line up to shake hands at the conclusion of each doubleheader.
“This is my first year playing and I was treated as someone they knew forever,” said Russ Koutrouby, of the Statesmen. Russ further elaborated, “There are many on my team that have helped me to improve….by freely sharing their experience whether in hitting or on the field.”
Last season, on the day of the last game, food was brought in and the players kicked back and enjoyed a friendly, field side celebration, reflecting on the season.
The Town of Brookhaven has a website which is dedicated to the Senior Softball League, https://www. brookhavenny.gov/271/Senior-Softball. Players and guests can review scores, game schedules and current standings. There are even photos posted depicting the action.
Eaton said it best when he noted that the word “recreation” is all about “re-creating” ourselves by doing something fun, healthy and social. This certainly seems to be the case with the Town of Brookhaven Super Senior Softball League. Play ball!
