Winston-Salem, NC -- 300 seniors from across the state stepped up to the plate on Saturday. Turns out, senior softball is a growing trend.
Even with temperatures in the upper 80's, it didn't stop the senior sluggers. With their game faces on, the tournament is all about competition and a little more.
"You still want to win too. We're still competitive, even though we can't run as fast or maybe hit it as far, or catch it as good, you still got it in your mind," said William Hauser, Manager for the Le Bleu senior team out of Winston-Salem.
Aside from unlimited courtesy runners and a few extra guys to fill in the outfield gaps, reputations were on the line at the local senior qualifying tournament.
"I've learned these guys kind of drop all other things to come to these tournaments and play ball," explained Chuck Vestal, local coordinator for the Piedmont Plus Senior Games.
But competition aside, this game is just downright good for the soul.
"If you've played a lot of softball, you don't ever lose that love of playing and the competition and being around the guys, " added William Hauser.
Harold Capps, an infielder said, "It's just a fun thing to do, and the companionship, the experiences that you get from softball, it's fun."
"You always pull muscles and all that kind of stuff," added Russell Smith.
However, despite their age and their ailments, they're a team and they show up for each other.
"That's a big thing, big part of it, just being around the guys and finding out what's going on in their lives," added Hauser.
Saturday's tournament was the qualifying round for the state tournament held in Raleigh in September. The Winston-Salem Le Bleu senior team made the cut, and now they're thinking ahead to the National Tournament in 2013 out in Cleveland.
The team is part of the Piedmont Senior Games, which offers many activities for male and female seniors year round.
WFMY News 2