Dave Reed: A Shining Example of Senior Softball

Sept. 1, 2009 – Steve Simmons New England & North Regional Director, Clubs & Leagues

FORT MYERS, FL – Dave Reed, who has been playing senior softball since he turned 50, is entering his 13th year as a senior player.

Like a lot of senior softball players, Reed says that he “thoroughly enjoy the senior game. It’s more than just playing the game it is also the friendships developed and the common respect players have for each other. It is one large fraternity and I’m honored to be involved. To me this is what makes senior softball such a wonderful pastime.”

Reed, the MVP in his division in the 2009 SSWC Tournament of Champions, is one of the top players in the land and this was recognized in 2002 when he was inducted into the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame.

Typical of Reed, he credits others for his success. He mentions the teams and teammates with whom he has been involved including the legendary Florida Crush teams, who he played with as a 50+ and a 55+ player, and currently Miken / Tanel Sports where he is now playing in the 60+ Major Plus division.

Reed also listed the managers he has played for, during his tenure as a senior player, as being instrumental to his success. They include the likes of Ed Rose, Johnny McCarrick and Tols Mihailoff. Reed also says he owes his recognition to the collective success of his teams, led by such iconic teammates as Don Clatterbough and Bruce Meade.

Reed has a special connection with Rose who has been his mentor in senior softball. Reed has stayed with teams managed by Rose for pretty much all of his senior softball career. He says the example set by Rose, both as a manager and player, established the standard for him to follow as a senior player. Reed also had special thanks for the time spent by Rose in helping him compose his Hall of Fame speech.

Rose, when informed of these comments, said, “Dave Reed has tremendous character and his humility keeps him from giving himself the credit he deserves. He has outstanding native abilities and is one of the hardest workers in the game. "

Frank Galuppo, also a teammate of Reed’s on the Florida Half Century Lightning team, has gotten to know Reed in the last couple of years. He echoed the sentiments of Rose when he said, “Davey keeps his feet on the ground while reaching for the sky.”

The workout routine Reed follows is entirely directed toward improving his senior softball game. It requires tremendous discipline and is enough to exhaust anyone. Reed lifts weights for one hour four times a week, hits 80 to 100 balls three times a week and does a 40-minute cardio workout three times a week.

Reed accomplished all that while he was still working full time for the Highlands County Parks and Recreation Department. That changed this past Spring when Reed retired. Asked what he would do now that he was retired Reed said, “I will play as much softball as I possibly can.”