If you are over the age of 40 and looking for a game of non-competitive slo-pitch softball, you might be in luck.
Coley's Point resident Pierre LeGresley is spearheading a move to start a 40-and-over league in Bay Roberts.
The retired Mountie is gauging the interest, and could start this summer.
LeGresley originally played in an over-40 league when he moved to Coley's Point just over a decade ago. That league would be forced to shut down in the middle of June every year due to the now-defunct Klondyke Concert.
With that concert on the sidelines and minor softball seeing resurgence in the community, LeGresley felt the time was right to look at implementing a master's league.
"I thought it would be a good time to bring the league back, if there is enough interest," he said.
LeGresley, along with the town's director of recreation, Ian Flynn, will be having a meeting tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m. on March 13 at the town hall in Bay Roberts.
The organizer said it does not matter who shows up to play, whether you have 20 years experience or if it is the first time they've picked up a bat and glove.
"All are welcome," said LeGresley.
All for fun
If there is one type of player LeGresley does not want is the ultra-competitive player. He wants players who are going to come for a game of ball and to have fun.
"We want to be really non-competitive and purely recreational," said LeGresley.
The move, he sees, could help boost numbers come the summer.
"What would happen is that a lot of people might not have a whole lot of talent and are interested, but if it's competitive, they're not going to go," said LeGresley.
To him, the league will be about building friendships and "having a good game of ball."
"If you've never played ball before, come on in and you'll learn as you play," said LeGresley.
Numbers expectations
LeGresley believes there will be "a lot of interest" in the new league.
He has been speaking with various senior ball players around the community, and has gotten positive feedback on the possibility of the league.
Whether enough players that come out is only enough for two teams, there will still be a regular game.
"Hopefully, there should be enough for four teams," said LeGresley.
If there are 30-40 players interested, the next step would to decide how to divvy up players into those four teams.
LeGresley said he would like to avoid having a pre-assembled team come into the league, which would mean a draft system could be in the cards.
There is also the option of mixing up the teams every two to three weeks.
"We might not even keep track. If you start keeping track of the teams you want to finish in second place or you want to finish in third place. It's the same thing if you have playoffs," said LeGresley.
"We're just going to play softball until we decide that it's over, maybe in September or October," he said
