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WANT TO PLAY HARDBALL?

CENTRAL MAINE MEN’S SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE IS LOOKING FOR COMPETIVE ATHLETE’S WHO ENJOY AMERICA’S FAVORITE PASTIME!

WHEN? SUNDAY MORNINGS

WHERE: TEAMS IN AUBURN, BOOTHBAY, FAIRFIELD, PITTSFIELD, RUMFORD, WATERVILLE, WINTHROP, READFIELD AND WEST PARIS

WHO: 25 YRS + (LEAGUE AVERAGE AGE 39)

NOTE: 2 PLAYERS BETWEEN 18 & 25 PER TEAM

HOW: go to: WWW.CENTRALMAINEMSBL.COM

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Published : Monday-August 08, 2005 - LEWISTON SUN JOURNAL

Young at heart America's pastime never gets old for these guys

RUMFORD - The sport of baseball is regarded as America's pastime because of the memories and pleasures it provides.

Those attributes have continued to drive five veteran ball players in carrying on their love for the game.

Bitsy Ionta, Bob Russell, Mark Palmer, Steve LaPointe and Ed Paterson have enjoyed playing baseball for more than a combined 200 years.

The five friends played with and against each other for decades in the former Pine Tree League. They are currently together again as teammates on the Rumford Cardinals entry in the Men's Senior Baseball League.

Ionta, a member of the Maine Baseball Hall Of Fame, is the elder statesman who just recently hit his 70th birthday. Although his skills aren't what they were, he serves as an inspiration to those who simply say they won't or can't get out and play ball.

"It is amazing that Bitsy can still do what he does at his age," said Paterson, a mere 45. "His passion seems to be fueled by the desire to do something that few people have accomplished, and because he can. It is impressive, and it has definitely rubbed off on all of us. It is great to be around a bunch of guys that have similar backgrounds and interests and be able to relate."

Ionta was discharged from the United States Air Force in July of 1957, and joined the Rumford Rams in the PTL. He became an accomplished pitcher, winning 225 games.

"Every one has a hobby that they enjoy doing," Ionta said. "Mine happens to be baseball. I've been fortunate to have played for as long as I have, and I'll continue to play until I'm not competitive any more. When will that be? Who knows?"

The five friends have interesting backgrounds, however, those become secondary whenever they step between the lines. Granted, their competitive fires still flicker, but they fully realize it's more than just wins and losses.

"At 18 years old, I was hoping to play to 40," Palmer said. "I saw Stubby Truman still competitive at 42, so I reassessed my own career. Now being over 50, my skills certainly are not as good when I was 20, which I expect. But, I'm still enjoying playing."

Along the way, numerous sacrifices have been necessary that have provided heartaches. Russell, 59, was the final cut on the 1964 University of Maine baseball team, which placed third in the College World Series. Following a stint in the Down East League, Russell flourished in the PTL. When duty called, he served in Desert Storm.

Many changes have been implemented in baseball through the years. These have involved a variety or things, from rules to the appearance of major league ball parks. Traditionalists, like Ionta have viewed several of these in a dim light.

"If I had my way," Ionta said. "I'd get rid of the DH (designated hitter), aluminum bats, artificial turf, domed stadiums, the wayward strike zone, phantom tags and pants down to the ankles, and if a batter hit a home run off me and watched it leave the park, I wouldn't drill him the next time he batted."

LaPointe, 48, has organized the River Valley Baseball League, which could draw interest like the PTL. He offers a unique perspective that filters among everyone who has a desire for the game.

"It just seems like summer would not be complete without baseball," LaPointe said. "The camaraderie is excellent. I still get excited each time I put on the uniform. Actually, I find some kids still love the game. I have been fortunate enough to coach (at Mountain Valley) many who have a passion for the sport."

Each has played on championship teams from Rumford, Mexico and Dixfield in the PTL. In 2000, the five won the MSBL championship.

Palmer, 52, still relishes gripping the cowhide and propelling it toward home plate. The velocity may be lacking, but nobody can fault the effort. Still, his career encountered plenty of highlights since donning orange and black at Mexico High School. Palmer's warning-track power held true, until he hit his first-ever home run several years ago.

"I can still remember learning the game at 7," Palmer said. "We played at (George Harkness) sand pit on the end of Granite Street. A group of us would play all day long and if the cover came off the a ball, we'd use black electrical tape and drive nails in broken wooden bats."

Ionta, also a Mexico alum, reluctantly admitted having set school records for six errors in one game.

They have also traveled to tournaments for the camaraderie and enjoyment of playing.

LaPointe said, "I have forged some friendships with players from other teams in our league and players from other leagues (Portland, New York). It is more of a convention of those who have a passion for the game."

Playing together now for the Cardinals have added to their many baseball stories.

"I started playing MSBL because it was a way to still play baseball without interfering with other important things in life," Paterson said. "It was only once a week on Sunday, where PTL was three games a week and practices. It allowed me to still compete, although in a little more gentlemanly manor, and still be able to spend quality time with my family and concentrate on my career. It also gave me an opportunity to not have to push myself as hard to compete with younger players on a continuous basis. I still feel I can compete for time to time, but not regularly."

Along with the advancing ages, each player has dealt with an increasing array of injuries. These have included aggravated rotator cuffs, strains and (muscular) pulls in back and legs, knees without cartilage, and Achilles heels getting sore. Therefore, the need to do stretches and exercises have become a daily ritual in order to strengthen it.

"I can accept these things as they happen," Ionta said. "But, what's difficult to accept is the lessening of upper body strength and much slower bat speed. But, life goes on and so does baseball. My mindset now is that every season, every game or every inning may be my last, so I enjoy what I can do while I can still do it. Play hard, have fun."

MORNING SENTINEL – AUGUST 15, 2005

The Boys of Summer


By GARY HAWKINS

Staff Writer

A sense of timelessness hung over Sherman Field in Boothbay Harbor on Thursday night as a couple of dozen baseball players squared off for a playoff game.

These guys had been here before, not just on this field but on a hundred others like it. Yes, this was August of 2005, but it could just as easily have been the summer of 1975 or, for that matter, 1935 when every town with a diamond fielded a team and provided its residents their major source of entertainment.

Spectators rarely outnumber players in the Central Maine Senior Baseball League, but the game remains the same. Besides, these guys don't play for pats on the back.

I think playing baseball just keeps you young, said Cornell Knight, who will turn 49 in a couple of months. "At least you feel young until the day after."

Knight plays shortstop and pitches for the Kennebec Indians, and his teammates call him Hobbs in honor of Roy Hobbs, the aging star of the movie and book The Natural.

I think it's fine, said Cornell, who has "Hobbs" printed on the back of his uniform.

Cornell, who is Winthrop's town manager, even plays in the Roy Hobbs World Series in Florida each winter. He's tried softball, but it's not his game.

I like the speed of baseball, he said. "I just find it more challenging."

On this night, the Indians are facing the Litchfield Dodgers with the winner advancing to the playoffs which begin today. Just about all the games are played on Sunday mornings, one of the league's selling points, since many of its members are married with children.

Another is strong organization. Since the Pine Tree League folded a few years ago, the Central Maine Senior League has grown to 10 teams with roots ranging from West Paris to Topsham.

It's steadily growing, said league president Bill Arsenault, who began playing in the league in the early 1990s.

Arsenault, 54, has been involved with baseball most of his life, both as a coach and player. His son, Max, plays for the University of Southern Maine and, as a catcher, shares the same position as his dad.

I've always been a catcher, Arsenault said. "That's where the action is."

With five players age 50 or older, the Dodgers are the league's oldest team. The league's oldest player is 70 year-old Theodore "Bitsy" Ionta, who recently had a token pitching start for the Rumford Cardinals giving him a turn on the mound in each of the last 50 years.

But the senior league is not just about the over-50 crowd or the over-40 contingent. The age requirement was recently lowered to 25 and many of its players are in their prime. By league rule, each roster can have four players under 30 although you must be 28 to pitch.

It's getting younger, said Rusty Klobas, 53, shortstop for the Dodgers. "It's good for the competitiveness of the league, but it's not good for the older guys."

Klobas, who grew up in California and lives in Hallowell, played minor league ball in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, getting as high as Triple A. But the legs that once led the Eastern League in triples in 1973 have lost much of their spring.

What happens to guys in their 40s is they start losing their speed and their strength and they fall back on fundamentals, Klobas said. "I played seven years of minor league ball and I definitely honed my skills there. If you've got footwork, you can pick up a ball and throw it."

A change last year from aluminum to wooden bats has helped maintain the league's competitive balance, not to mention the safety of its pitchers. Knight said he was hit twice while pitching against batters wielding aluminum and is thankful it's gone.

The big thing is playing with the wooden bat, said Dennis Martin, 35, who plays for the Fairfield Rockies.

Unlike many of his senior league counterparts, Martin is also an avid softball player, and has seen how players with little or no high school baseball experience can pound a softball with an aluminum bat. Wood, and faster pitching, are great equalizers.

It's amazing these guys in the pros make it look so easy, Martin said.

Wooden bats have cut down on the scoring, increasing both strategy and the number of one-run games. Senior league baseball is a nationwide organization, and Arsenault said the trend toward wood is gaining momentum.

There's more and more wooden bat teams in the tournaments, he said. "It's more of a defensive game."

Teams carry as many as 16 players and generally allow everyone to hit whether they're in the field or not. The fact the league plays nine innings allows most hitters to get three or four at-bats a game.

Another feature of the league is good sportsmanship. Baserunners don't slide in with spikes high and there are few confrontations with umpires.

This league is competitive, said Chappy Nelson, 45, a teammate of Martin's and an umpire himself. "There's not a lot of bickering with the umpires. Once you get a certain age you're just happy you're playing."

Thursday night's game fittingly came down to a battle between Knight on the mound and Klobas, Arsenault and their teammates at the plate. Knight came at the batters with a variety of sliders, curves and well-placed fastballs. Klobas reached on an error, but Knight got Arsenault on a comebacker to the mound.

With runners at first and third and two outs, Knight struck out the final batter to preserve a one-run victory. His teammates swarmed him with the enthusiasm of Little Leaguers. It doesn't get any better than that.

Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com

AIG Life Insurance Company

PROOF OF LOSS 2006

Mail completed form and claims to:

AIG Claim Services

A&H Claims Department

P. O. Box 15701

Wilmington, DE 19850-5701

800-551-0824/302-661-4176

NAME OF GROUP:

POLICY NUMBER:

DEDUCTIBLE: $250.00

Men’s Senior Baseball League

SRG8067878

SPECIAL RISK ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS CLAIM FORM

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.) You must have SECTION A fully completed by a designated official of the Policyholder.

2.) SECTION B is to be completed, signed and dated by the claimant or parent/guardian of claimant, if claimant is a minor.

3.) Attach itemized bills for all medical expenses being claimed including the claimant's name, condition being treated (diagnosis), description of services, date of service(s) and the charge made for each service. PLEASE MAIL COMPLETED FORM AND BILLS TO ABOVE ADDRESS.

¨ primary plan - benefits are payable for covered medical expenses from the first dollar without regard to payments made by other insurance up to the policy maximum.

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The furnishing of this form, or its acceptance by the Company, must not be construed as an admission of any liability on the Company, nor a waiver of any of the conditions of the insurance contract.

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Men’s Senior Baseball League

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