Playing on a 'field of dreams'
By Dave Buschenfeldt
Bob Hitlin had always been active growing up, playing many sports including baseball, but as the years went on, he found less time to participate in athletic activities. After teaching political science at Georgetown and American universities, and later working as a government contractor, Hitlin, 61, had all but given up his active lifestyle.It wasn't until he saw an advertisement for Northern Virginia Senior Softball 11 years ago that Hitlin rekindled his love of sports and got back on the field.
“I played a lot of ball, but what happens to a lot of guys is when you get into your thirties and forties, you stop playing,” said Hitlin, a Reston resident. “I joined the [Northern Virginia Senior Softball] league at 50, and it was an opportunity to get back to playing ball.”
Hitlin is one of hundreds of local seniors who are participating in NVSS, an organization that was formed in 1980. Men and women from all walks of life are welcome to join and experience “fun, fitness and fellowship.”
“For the most part, we're a group of guys that enjoy the game,” said Ron Artley, 65, of Springfield. “Good sportsmanship is what the vast majority of us are interested in seeing.”
Added 60-year-old Chantilly resident Joe Wittling, “I love competition. I think it's great exercise. There are some really good ballplayers in the league. Playing softball is a hell of a lot better than watching TV.”
While all NVSS players admit that their bodies won't allow them to do some of the things they could do when they were younger, they all agree that playing two games every Tuesday and Thursday mornings is beneficial for both the mind and body.
“Just to be able to get out and get that kind of exercise and keep the mind as well as the body reasonably sharp is a credit to each and every one of us,” Artley said. “For me, this is a mental health break. You get out here and for two hours, everything else is out of your mind. That's the greatest thing about athletics. All you're thinking about is the games.”
NVSS does its best to provide an even playing field, using an assessment system to split its players into three different divisions – American, National and Continental – based on skill level. There are currently 25 total teams in the three divisions, with 15 players on each roster. Men 50 years or older and women 40 years or older are encouraged to sign up and play.
"These are all good guys," Hitlin said. "That's the really fun part of it. Everybody here is friendly. The competition is serious and intense, but it's very friendly. It's a reason to try and stay in some kind of shape. I do a lot more exercise than I would otherwise."
For more information on the league or to sign up, visit the NVSS Web site at www.nvss.org.
“It's inspiring to play with these guys,” said Dave Scheele, 75, the NVSS publicity chairman. “It's fun, it's challenging. For a few hours, you're on the field of dreams.”