Bend’s over-60 Masters softball league has important role in players’ lives, welcomes seniors of all ages

(Update: adding video, comments from players, commissioner)

'You don’t stop playing the game because you get old. You get old because you stop playing the game.'

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Who says you have to stop playing softball when you get older?

Every Wednesday, the 60-and-over Masters softball teams come together at Pine Nursery for a double-header match-up. 

Karl Johansen, the commissioner for the over-60 Masters softball league, is amazed at the size of the turnout of senior athletes.

“Pretty incredible, actually, for having the amount of players we have,” Johansen said. 

The league is made up of 70 players on five teams, with some players as old as 85. 

“So we have a lot of elderly guys that are playing ball in Bend,” Johansen said. 

A lot of the players, like one of the team managers, Jim Bailey, started playing in the 50s league and never stopped.

“One of the guys told me, 'Hey, we have this league that plays on Wednesday mornings,' and I said, 'I can’t wait to be 60 -- it’s something to look forward to!'” Bailey recalled. “So that’s how I started doing it, and I’ve been playing here for eight years now.”

He and Johansen said getting outside in the sun every week is good for the players, both mentally and physically. 

“But here you’re playing softball the way it’s meant to be played, out in the sunlight,” Bailey said.

Johansen added, “Well, part of it is they’re not just going to the gym. They’re out here enjoying the sunshine and getting some exercise and moving around and doing things that they may not be doing otherwise.”

They say having a friendly, but competitive league gives the guys something to look forward to.

“For a lot of our guys who are retired or are older, they will say this is very important to them,” Bailey said. “Waiting and looking forward to the next season is something they really look forward to. You know, as you get older in years, this is the thing: 'I get to play with the guys, I get to play a kids game, even though I’m in my 70s and 80s.' That's the excellent part about this league.”

Plus, every season ends with a one-game playoff and a season championship.

“Winner gets to have the same beer as the loser does,” Johansen said with a smile. 

The league runs from late April to September every year.

Bailey and Johansen encourage anyone interested to reach out about joining next year, or just come on by to watch on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. 

As one of the players said: “You don’t stop playing the game because you get old. You get old because you stop playing the game.”