The Villages - September 2016 - 11

A pr o gr Am l i k e n o o t he r Softball has bloomed into one of the top sports around, and its success stems from the people involved. "Our most notable factor is the spirit of volunteerism that drives our softball program," Jacobs said. "The program would not be possible without all of our volunteers serving many duties, from division boards to managers, umpires and scorekeepers. They all do an amazing job of carrying the torch of The Villages." Players who move here from around the country are amazed at the size and reach of softball in Florida's Friendliest Hometown. The recreational softball program in The Villages is home to more than 3,000 players, spans more than 28 years of play and stretches 16 miles from the first field, Knudson Field, built in 1988, to the newest facility, the Soaring Eagle Softball Complex, erected in 2015. "Aside from just enjoying the game as a player and the obvious exercise, you get to meet fellow players and fans of the game who become friends. It's a community within a community," Division 3 Commissioner Ray Walters said. That feeling of community is why the program has exponentially grown through the years. The men and women involved in every aspect of the softball operation on a day-to-day basis make it run smoothly and make it fun for everyone involved, from players to managers, umpires and scorekeepers. The spouses even run their own groups as team cheerleaders. "Softball is special due to the players, (spouses) and fans," Division 4 Scorekeeper and Statistician Jan Couturier said. "They are such a strong support system for each other and it becomes family." That family feel keeps players young at heart. "Some (Villagers) may have played organized ball into their 40s and then some not at all after high school or college, but down here we can all be little boys again," Division 5 Manager Wayne Meyer said. "We all want to do good and have a winning team, but there is an all-for-one, one-for-all attitude that is very contagious and affects us all." The volume of games b e i n g p l ay e d i s a T e s Ta m e n T T o o u r pa s s i o n aT e r e s i d e n T s a n d T h e a m a z i n g fa c i l i T i e s w e h av e h e r e T o w i T h s Ta n d T h aT m u c h p l ay. Danny Jacobs MAGAZINE 11

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