Senior softball league a hit
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers HOW IT'S DONE, SON- Lou Cumbo laces a base hit during a recent senior softball game.

A group of men and women are enjoying themselves on a local ballfield thanks to an adult softball league organized by the Goebel Senior Adult Center in Thousand Oaks.

The league consists of players 50 years or older who meet on Tuesday and Friday mornings for pickup games and on Wednesday nights for organized league contests.

Games are held at the Thousand Oaks Community Park softball field behind the community center, but they will soon be relocated to Conejo Community Park.

The league began in the early 1980s. Conejo Parks and Recreation leader Mark Williams has overseen the league since 1996 and is amazed by how much it's grown.

"Immediately, when you retire, most of the time you'll go traveling and do a couple of the things you never had time to do when you were working," Williams said.

"But after a couple of months, you find yourself sitting on the couch with nothing to do. This league was created for those people."

For players like Thousand Oaks resident Jacques Nosco, 58, softball has been the perfect activity since he retired.

Nosco was forced to retire two years ago due to arthritis, but after a year he found himself looking for something active to take part in.

"My wife found out about the league and told me I should try it," Nosco said. "The doctors said the more I move, the better I will be healthwise, so I said, 'Why not.' It turned out to be a good choice because this league has been just great.

"We all kid and heckle each other, and after the game we'll usually go to Carl's Jr. and talk about baseball. I've made some great friendships here," he said.

After not playing on a diamond for 10 years, Nosco said, suiting up and putting on a glove again instantly took him back to what it was like as a child.

"This league really is a fountain of youth," Nosco said. "When I take the field and look around at all the guys with their caps and sunglasses on, I don't see 70yearolds- I see teenagers."

Moorpark resident Rick Maki, 70, echoed Nosco's statement.

"I think the older you get, the closer you get to the start of the life cycle and therefore the closer you get to being a child again," Maki said with a laugh.

"I hadn't played for 30 years and had forgotten how great this game is."

To play, a $1 insurance form must be filled out. There are chalk lines at second base and home plate, so instead of sliding, a baserunner can run through the bag without injuring themselves.

The leagues are divided into two divisions- Majors and Minors- with Majors being the more competitive of the two.

The pickup games are not as serious, but uniforms are given out for league play.

Thousand Oaks resident Moon Mullen, 77, has been playing in the league since it formed and has always enjoyed the competition.

"I'm really thankful for the league because when you retire, you can't just do nothing," he said. "You have to have a hobby of some kind. This has been mine."

Oak Park resident Jim Burnham has enjoyed every minute of his two decades on the diamond.

"I love it because it gets me out of the house for a few hours," Burnham said.

"It's wonderful because it keeps me healthy, and I love the camaraderie you get with these guys."

Williams has many duties working for the Park and Recreation District, but said the softball league is what he's most proud of.

"When I come out here and see all these people having a good time, it brings a smile to my face," he said. "I mean, people get to play softball and they're meeting a lot of good people. It can't be much better."

Players interested in joining the softball league can contact the Goebel Senior Adult Center at (805) 381-2744.