Slo-pitch is a popular sport among the many seniors in Parksville Qualicum Beach and area.
The sport is played regularly at the Parksville Community Park field for players 55 years old and over, with some close to reaching 90 years old. They simply love the game.
It is organized by the Parksville Seniors Athletics Group (PSAG), affiliated with the Parksville Golden Oldies Sports Association. They have a spring and summer outdoor league with two divisions, one with older demographics and more recreational, and the other a bit more competitive. There are six teams in each division.
Roland Wickett, the PSAG secretary and one of the organizers of the league, said they play starting in April and go through to August, where each division plays a double knockout playoff tournament to end the season.
"We have around 168 players that enjoy the game of slo-pitch," said Wickett. "We also have two local teams that compete in a league against teams from Port Alberni and Nanaimo. That's a pretty decent level of ball. So, there're probably another 40 or 50 guys that play on that. There's probably over 200 at least that are playing every week."
Wicket indicated the participation in the sport is quite remarkable.
"They're all pretty keen to play," said Wickett. "When people in their late 50s see people playing, they're drawn to it. Most of them have probably played in the past. They're either been involved in fastpitch, slo-pitch or orthodox softball."
There are current players who have undergone hip, knee and shoulder replacements and found renewed energy to play and be active. Wicket said they're a big help.
"There are people that have gotten new parts that replaced the painful old ones they've been playing with," said Wickett. "It allows you to stretch your playing career."
Wickett said slo-pitch is an activity that offers something they can look forward to every week. It can be to compete or just use the occasion to socialize and interact with friends as well as create new ones.
"There's just a desire there to get some of your youth back, compete, and it's a lot of fun," Wickett said. "There's a lot of teasing and making fun of each other in a good way. It's great camaraderie."
One of the many seniors who continues to play and loves slo-pitch is Larry Newland, who at 86 years old has no plans of giving it up.
"I guess you want to do it as long as you can," said Newland, who still pitches, hits and fields. "I never played ball before but I have been playing slo-pitch here for the last 20 years."
Newland plays slo-ptich all year. During the winter, his team plays at Arbutus Meadows and the summer months at the Parksville Community Park. He has simple advice to everyone who wants to keep playing.
"Don't give up," said Newland. "If you like it, keep doing it."
Nyland's teammate Judy Elliott said you just have to simply "keep moving."
"There are guys who are in their 80s that are playing and we're out here, playing decently well," said Elliott. "We're not in the A Division but we're out here because we just enjoy playing."
In order to make the game fun and ideal for the most senior in the league, Wickett said, they have modified it a bit like having someone pinch run from home plate for players like Newland, who is quite strong at bat.
"For a guy like Larry, he wouldn't be able to play, otherwise," Wickett explained. "So we allowed a pinch runner from home. And the other thing is that, if the batter hits the ball out in the infield, to an outfielder, the outfielder cannot throw the batter out at first base. If they get a base hit, they get rewarded for it. They don't get put out by somebody throwing them out. That makes a big difference."
For more information on Parksville Seniors Athletics Group (PSAG), go visit the website https://pgosa.org/index.php/activities/sports-activities/slo-pitch