The evening of Saturday June 3rd, 1990 was a beautiful spring evening in Kansas City when our league’s first three softball teams played their first league ball games. The first game was played by two of these teams. Upon the completion of this game, each team’s scorekeeper showed their team winning by the score of 9 to 8. What a way to begin! One of these teams then played the third team so that all teams could compete. This was the format used each Saturday evening.
The Following season the league started play with seven teams and added an eighth team during the season.
Two years later play began during the day on Saturday and a conference was added one evening during the week. An effort was also made to offer at least three different levels of competition.
In 1996 the league produced it’s first team with a father-son combination and also had it’s first female team manager.
In 1997 the league sponsored its first qualifying tournament and the KC Classic continues to be an annual event. In 2004 the KC Classic hosted 52 teams, 30 of which were from out of the area.
In 1998, play began on Sunday at Cottonwood Park in Lenexa, KS. In 1999, a double-header league was started on Thursday nights at the Mid America Complex in Shawnee, KS with two skill levels.
In 2003, a 40+ Women’s League was started on Monday nights and play is now at Hartman Park in Lee’s Summit. In 2005, The Saturday Morning Draft Leagues were expanded at Roe Park, in Overland Park, KS. In 2006, play began on Wednesday nights at Hartman Park.
In 2008, play began at Happy Rock Park in Gladstone, MO on Tuesday nights, Black Bob Park in Olathe, KS on Tuesday & Sunday nights, and Heritage Park in Olathe on Thursday nights.
In 2004, the Kansas City Metro Senior Softball League fielded forty-two teams comprised of over 500 members playing in various divisions five days and evenings per week.
In 2008, we had sixty-four teams playing six days a week and we have grown to over 700 members.
Our league regularly has representation in national tournaments throughout the United States. We have had nationally ranked teams and produced national championship teams. Teams have been on goodwill tours to Hawaii and distant countries including Europe and Australia.
To further promote Senior Softball in our area, last year, we hosted the SSUSA “First Annual Kansas City Last Chance Qualifier”. It is our intention to host a National tournament soon. We hope the Kansas City area can become a more important part of the national Senior Softball picture.
Our goal is to promote the game of slow pitch softball for men over the age of 35 and women over the age of 40. We bring together mature adults to enjoy fun, fellowship, and good health through athletic competition. You don’t have to be a super athlete to play. Many of our members, aged 35 through 80+, have not played the game for years.
Attitude can be the most powerful stimulant to staying young at heart, mind and body. Join the fun, build friendships, enjoy the sport with interesting, enthused seniors and add a spark to your life. Many members engage in basketball and volleyball in the off-season.
We have teams for every level of competition and welcome new members. If you are interested in playing slow pitch softball, please contact Randy Rowe at 816-623-3355 or rrr5850@aol.com, or Wes Weddle at 816-331-3878 or wesplayball@aol.com. You may also email us at seniorsofballkc@yahoo.com . We have a new player questionnaire on our site at http://www.kcseniorsoftball.com/Player_questionaire_2008.doc that you can complete and return to us.
We encourage prospective sponsors to look into our organization as a way of advertising and helping the community. We are a 501(c)4 not for profit Missouri Corp. We contribute to local charities annually. If you are interested in league or team sponsorship, please contact Charlie Hiller at 913-649-3816 or via email at leftyks10@yahoo.com |
