Clermont County elders excel in senior softball

The Anderson Senior Softball League is very important to its more than 80 competitors who have played on Mondays throughout the summer. The games take place at Riverside Park just south of Newtown.

Robert Kuebler is the oldest player in the league. The 82-year old Mount Carmel resident has been a member of the senior league since 1989.

“I hadn’t played softball in 33 years, but I wanted to get back into it because I love playing ball and its a fun thing and you meet a lot of nice people,” said Kuebler who is a retired equipment operator for Burns-Conway Construction Co.

He didn’t see action this summer because he had broken his back last year and had surgery.

The determined, dedicated gentleman, who lives by himself, said, "I'm learning to walk again so I can get back to being myself again."

Jim Reed can be regarded as a veteran of the senior softball circuit. At 68 years of age, the Williams Corner resident is one of the youth of the league.

He pointed out some of the differences in the game from regular slowpitch softball. There are two home plates widely separated with the outside plate used for scoring the runs to try to eliminate the possibility of collisions at the plate that is used for the batting. There are also two first bases to avoid collision. To avoid sliding, the bases can be overrun, but the runner must return to the base he overran.

"I really enjoy playing in this league. It's good exercise and good fellowship. The people I've met playing in this softball league are terrific. I've made some good friends," said Reed. "We have players from all walks of life. My team has a Methodist minister, a lawyer, a doctor, a truck driver and some construction workers.

"I'll play as long as I can run," Reed said. "The Anderson Park people do a fantastic job with these fields."

"Everybody that I know in that league appreciates the fact that we can still play ball and we want to play as long as we're able. More people need to play so they can enjoy the friendship and exercise," Kuebler concluded.

The following Clermont countians participated in the Anderson Township Monday Senior Softball League. Included with their name is their age.

Ken Alvey (71) of Union Township, David Ballinger (72) of Willowville, Glen Behymer (69) of Goshen, Roy Blackburn (67) of Milford, Harold Blinkhorn (76) of Goshen, Leslie Bowling (73) of Mount Carmel, James Cook (70) of Mount Holly, Dick Decamp (72) of Milford, Bill Hanks (69) of Withamsville, Claude Hickey (69) of Marathon, Robert Holbert (79) of Miamiville, Ed Hornberger (70) of Milford, William Jansen (73) of Williamsburg, Robert Kuebler (82, the oldest player in the league) of Mount Carmel, Herb MacVittie (73) of Mount Carmel, Ron Marion (67) of Amelia, Hank Meiners (69) of Perintown, Tony Palazzolo (69) of Locust Corner, Joe Redmond (67) of Mount Carmel, Jim Reed (68) of Williams Corner, Ramon Ressa (77) of Mount Carmel, Richard Ring (77) of Withamsville, Tom Rollins (66) of Pierce Township, Moe Shepherd (69) of Owensville, Ron Ward (72) of Amelia, Larry West (73) of Moscow, Warren Wettengel (69) of Batavia, and Jim Wheeldon (68) of Union Township.