Sundays on the Diamond: Ave Maria’s Unofficial Adult Co-Ed Softball Team

GLENN MILLER / AVE MARIA SUN

Every Sunday morning, a group of about a dozen to possibly two dozen Ave Maria residents convene in South Park for casual, lively games of slow-pitch softball.

The gatherings are delightfully informal; in fact, the group doesn’t even have an official name. Yet, what they lack in formality, they make up for in sheer enjoyment.

Warm-ups begin around 9:30 a.m. and the first pitch is about 10:00 a.m. The games have no umpires, and a four-run limit per inning is imposed to maintain balance and prevent runaway victories. Modifications to the rules are made when insufficient players turn up, ensuring everyone gets a chance to participate.

For example, a right-handed batter may be allowed to hit only to left field. Or if there aren’t enough players for four infielders, outs may be recorded simply by catching the ball before the runner reaches first base.

The players do not have uniforms, but jerseys have been ordered. They will say Ave Maria on the front and players can choose a name and number for the back.

Ave Maria residents gather on Sunday mornings in South Park. GLENN MILLER / AVE MARIA SUN

The games attract a diverse crowd, from former collegiate athletes to senior citizens and even children, fostering a sense of inclusivity and community spirit. Although labeled as co-ed softball, the majority of players are male, spanning ages from their 20s to their 70s.

Ave Maria resident Justin Chervets is a regular. Although only one woman played the morning the Sun stopped by, he said usually two or three women will play. “We welcome everybody in our community,” Chervets said.

That means everybody from former collegiate linebackers to men in their 70s and female pharmacists and children. “We’re not trying to intimidate anybody,” Chervets said. “We want them to come back.”

Jessica Nguyen, a pharmacist at the Ave Maria Publix, enjoys playing softball every other weekend. Hailing from Minnesota, where she played high school softball, Nguyen finds the game to be “way fun” and an enjoyable way to stay active. After a sharp hit resulting in a flyout to center, Nguyen remarked, “It’s a fun way to exercise.”

Angel Rivera

One of the returning players this week was Chervets’ 26-year-old younger brother, Shawn Chervets. Shawn was visiting and said he has played four or five times and likes the relaxed atmosphere.

“We all make sure everybody is safe,” Shawn said. “That’s the main thing. Make sure everybody is taken care of.” By the way, the pitchers pitch from behind a screen as a safety precaution so nobody is winged by a line drive.

All are welcome, with the informal age limit of 18-plus being more of a guideline than a strict rule. Occasionally, children as young as 10 join in, encouraged to enjoy the game and contribute. “We let them play and let them get a base hit,” said Angel Rivera, one of the regulars at age 53.

However, amidst this diversity, three things remain constant across generations: camaraderie, exercise and fun. The atmosphere is vibrant and jovial.

Jessica Nguyen

When George Prieto hit a powerful shot to the outfield fence, fellow players teasingly shouted “WTP! WTP!,” an acronym for “Warning Track Power,” acknowledging his impressive hit without quite making it a home run. Such good-natured banter typifies the spirit of the games.

A couple innings later, George’s brother blasted one over the left-field fence. A little brotherly joshing was in store for him. “I’ll say, ‘Hey, you have to hit the weights a little more,’” George Prieto said.

Athleticism is valued, but the essence of these games extends far beyond mere physical prowess. They’ve evolved into a cherished ritual for many, offering a refreshing change of pace. Rivera estimates these games have been a consistent fixture for about two years now.

Competitiveness inevitably creeps in, but it’s balanced with a sense of sportsmanship. Rivera, who oversees the games, emphasizes the importance of keeping the spirit light and injury-free.

Steve Cohen

In addition to the fun, there’s a collective longing to relive youthful vigor, as expressed by Glenn Gaudio, a 41-year-old father of three, who leisurely drives his golf cart to the field.

One Sunday morning, 24-year-old Jared Dewinne played and was clearly faster than the older men in their 50s, 60s and 70s.

Ave Maria resident Kendrick Towles may have been the best athlete on another Sunday and has no prior baseball or softball experience before playing.

He was an outside linebacker at Tennessee Tech and the school’s football website lists him as lettering from 2008 to 2012.

Now, at 34 and more than a decade since his last collegiate football game, Towles is a recreational athlete.

Sunday morning softball at South Park is much more laid back compared to his college football days.

“I was looking for ways to stay active,” Towles said. He first heard about the softball community when looking on Facebook.

Glenn Gaudio

In one at-bat he flew out to the outfield but didn’t seem upset. He seemed to be absolutely beaming.

“It’s a good time for sure,” he said with a smile. “I’m glad I came back.”

Ave Maria resident Steve Cohen at 67 years is more than three decades older. But on this Sunday morning, they played in the same game.

“I just enjoy playing softball,” Cohen said. “It’s something different. There’s just so much golf, pickleball, weightlifting, jogging and swimming you can do.”

He has no problem playing with much younger people.

“Not yet,” Cohen said.

Cohen wasn’t the oldest player in the game.

Bob Mullane is 75, which means he’s roughly a half-century older than the younger Chervets brother.

“Oh, it’s energetic,” Mullane said of the game-day atmosphere. “It’s fun. It’s another way of exercising.”

Making errors is part of the game at any level and they seem to be graciously accepted on Sunday mornings.

“If you make a mistake, no one is going to say anything,” Mullane said. “We just regroup.”

Players keep returning, week after week for good times under the Ave Maria sunshine.

“There’s a lot of us who come every week and then there’s people who come and go,” Rivera said.

But count on seeing Rivera again at South Park on Sunday mornings.

The post Sundays on the Diamond: Ave Maria’s Unofficial Adult Co-Ed Softball Team first appeared on Ave Maria Sun .