NEW SYLVANIA SENIOR LEAGUE IS A BIG HIT

Feb. 1, 2010 – Victor Gerald

TOLEDO, OHIO _ Senior softball players in Northwest Ohio have found their “Field of Dreams” and it’s located in Sylvania, Ohio.

Sylvania’s Pacesetter Park is an eight-diamond complex that features seven fields with 300-foot fences, lush green grass, groomed dirt infields, enclosed dugouts, lights and concession stands.

The Sylvania Senior Softball League ended its second season in September with 182 players participating in the Tuesday and Thursday night leagues. The SSSL has grown from 12 teams in 2008 to 17 teams in 2009. They

now offer a Tuesday night league (six teams), for seniors 58+. Joel Hansen’s State Farm Insurance won the 2009 league title.

The Thursday league (11 teams), is for seniors 50+. The team sponsored by attorney Joseph Wittenberg won the 2009 Thursday League.

The board members who orchestrated the new league are Gary Meyer, president, John Radscheid, James Dunlavy, Jeff Lydy, Bruce Anderson, Jerry Keefe and Rob Boehme.

“The boys of summer have found a place to call home. Pacesetter Park is one of the finest sports complexes in Ohio,” said Meyer. “The fields are well groomed and the complex is very well maintained”, he added.

The two-year old SSUSA League began play in Sylvania after a group of

players, dissatisfied with field conditions in Toledo, searched about the outlying area for a place to call home.

“We looked around for several years and finally met with Ken Katafias the operations manager for Sylvania Recreation and Rob Conover, assistant programs director, and they were receptive to the idea”, Meyer said.

The SSSL rent the fields from Sylvania Parks and Recreation and function

separately as an independent league. “Our Senior League is a member of SSUSA. We play SSUSA rules and acquire our insurance through them,” said board member Anderson.

The Tuesday and Thursday night leagues play a 15 game schedule, followed by a league tournament. The 2009 tournament (50+) was won by Allshred Services and the (58+) was won by Joel Hansen State Farm Insurance. The winners received jackets and the sponsors received trophies.

Other crucial partners of the league are the many local sponsors, such as Frickers Sports Bar and Grill, who sponsors six teams. All 17 teams were sponsored by local merchants.

All SSSL players pay a $55 membership fee and teams are selected by a draft process. The league plays ball May through September.

For more information regarding the SSSL, check their website at: www.sylvaniaseniorsoftball.com