Shared camaraderie

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Luscombe said.

A visit to a recent game found players with a diversity of backgrounds.

Mike Rogers, center fielder, is retired from the Marion County Solid Waste Department while outfielder Arthur Holden, 75, is a retired science teacher.

MCSS player Nick Estavillo, 78, is a retired chief of patrol with the New York City Police Department who oversaw 20,000 officers and 4,000 civilian staff members. He also served in the Marine Corps. including service in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967 in a recon unit.

Ed Cowan, 70, is playing after knee surgery in January, and Mike Tamburello, 63, who is in the HVAC business, has had both hips replaced.

Gary “Pappy” Phelps, 83, a former Florida Freshwater Fish and Game Commission game warden who served in areas including the Everglades, was acting as home plate umpire during the recent game.

“Makes me feel like a teenager again,” he said. “This is a great league.”

Army veteran and single dad Derwin “D.C.” Cobb played all nine positions during the game and had words of encouragement for his teammates. His daughter, Winter, 11, shared the fun with her dad and helped by retrieving bats from home plate.

MCSS player Calvin Osteen, 80, is retired from Southern Bell telephone. He survived cancer 22 years ago and in recent years has suffered a stroke and had two heart stents implanted.

Boyce Kline, 85, a retired Navy veteran, said playing with the MCSS group keeps you young.

Sara Lambert, community engagement coordinator for Marion County Parks and Recreation, oversees the program. She said all levels of players are welcome and there is a $50 per season sign-up fee. Players can join anytime.

Lambert explained in an email that Ralph Russell Park was donated to Marion County in 1978 by the Ralph Russell Memorial Fund, Inc. Since 1997, she said, the county has “awarded more than $74,000 in park partnership grant funds for improvements to the park,” which has baseball and softball fields, restroom and concession facilities and playground equipment.

Julio Castro, 61, is with The Guest House (Ocala) treatment center, a team sponsor. He said playing with MCSS “keeps the blood going.”

MCSS player George Kershner, a Del Webb Community resident temporally sidelined by a medical issue, watched the recent game. He said he misses playing and hopes to rejoin the team soon.

Meanwhile, Dennis Morgan, 82, whose career was in the automotive trade, played outfield “rover” and said he loves the games. Morgan is one of the program’s contact people for new players.

Carlie Smith, 66, a caregiver, moved here three years ago from Oregon. She’s a self-described “sports girl” and she said playing softball helps her keep fit. Elise Delatore, an office manager, said playing with the group is fun.

Pat West, retired oil refinery supervisor, said she enjoys the camaraderie of the MCSS players.

Haralson stated MCSS provides “an affordable, safe place to play slow-pitch softball in an atmosphere of fair play, sportsmanship and friendly rivalry. Beginners are welcome.”

During a game, he noted, “If you don’t have fun (playing MCSS), it’s your own fault.”

More information and contacts can be found at: marioncountyseniorsoftball.com, Facebook: bit.ly/3FGg30s or call (352)671-8560.