Hello 60+ Playoff Contenders,

Here are some important updates!

1. Details for Closing Lunch
2. Changes in RA Parking Next Week
3. Nominations for next Vice President Operations
4. Reminder for Year-End Survey
5. Buck Martinez’s Six (6) Secrets to Recreational Softball Playoff Success

Closing Lunch moved up to Tuesday 22 September 2026.   Given our League was a bit too numerous for our Opening Breakfast spot this past Spring, and we were separated in different rooms, we will be holding our Closing Event this year at the RA Fieldhouse.  In fact, we are going to hold it from 12:30 pm immediately following our Playoff Championship games on 22 September 2026.  After the second game, we can all go from the diamonds right up into the RA Fieldhouse to celebrate our season and not worry about moving our cars, or coming back a week later.   We hope this will encourage all our Players including those from our 09h30 games to come watch the finals and to make it a full morning and lunch, together.

Many People to Thank!   We are hoping everyone will make an effort to attend the Closing Lunch as we have so many people to recognize in the Village that makes this league work, both on, and off the field.

The RA Caterers will be providing us with some hot/cold self-serve Buffet dishes for $20.00 flat, which also includes the tax.  Beverages will be separate, and the RA bar will be open for refreshments and non-alcoholic drinks.

RSVP.   Your Captains will be taking RSVPs for the event.  Please let them know you are coming.

Payment.   You can e-transfer your $20 to Maureen and she will record your name for the day of the Closing Lunch.  Or, you can bring $20 with you and give it to Maureen or myself, and we will mark you as paid.

Change in RA Parking.  From our game next Tuesday the 8^th of September to the end of the Playoffs, the RA western parking lots closest to Bronson Avenue will be closed.   The RA is asking us to please park in the eastern parking lots which is where we typically park, anyway.   There might be more cars competing for spots.

Nominations Anyone?   Your League is seeking nominations for a new Vice-President Operations.  Our great VP Ops Malcolm has completed his two (2) year term and we will be recognizing his dedication at our end of season Closing Lunch.   If you are interested in helping out, you can query  Malcolm about his role and/or you can also look at the volunteer job description on our website: 2025 Executive Job Descriptions .   I am available at 613 698 6900 if you have any questions on the process.

Give us your Feedback, PLEASE – End-of-Year Survey.  As you already know, Lorne has sent you his end-of-year survey for all of us to complete.   I did mine, it took under 3 minutes.  Lorne has told us that sixty (60) Players have already submitted.   Wow, please don’t let your voice go unheard.   Your Executive is hoping that by getting Lorne’s important survey out a bit earlier this year, with a deadline of 15 September 2026, this will allow Lorne to give us the highlights/lowlights at our Closing Lunch.  Lorne will also eventually send each one of us a report of your results.

Kind regards from your Executive members,

Paddy
613 698 6900

REGULAR SEASON DONE – EXCITING PLAYOFF UPDATE 2026

Greetings 60+ Playoff Contenders:

Congratulations to Everyone for completing our 2026 Regular Season in strong form.  There were some great final games to decide some close standings.  A special thank you to our Captains for getting all of us across the first finish line.

• Congrats to CMB Canadians and Terry Perkins (12-2-2, 26 points) for winning the Churchill Trophy for overall winners of the Regular Season.
• Congrats also to Crete Ryan and Greg Dorey (12-4-0, 24 points) for their determination to come from behind in their Division to closely edge out Pontiac Bakery and Bob Donnelly (11-5-0, 22 points) in a head-to-head final game as Division Champs. Both of these teams had great seasons, too.

NEW PLAYOFF FORMAT

TWO PLAYOFFS, TWO TROPHIES, FOR A BIGGER LEAGUE

One of the opportunities and challenges for our growing League (12 teams, with almost 150 players) is providing the best playoff format that challenges the most teams with the most success.

One of our biggest logistical challenges is how to fit 12 teams into a 5 week playoff season and trying to find the best match-ups to give every team the fairest chance.   There is no way to get every team to play each other.

SO, given our standings this year, plus lots of players’ feedback on our league balancing, and a great grass roots recommendation, your Executive have decided to try a new unique format in 2026.

For 2026, we are dividing the League’s 12 teams into two separate 6 team playoff Divisions with more intimate playoff competition for the six teams inside each of those Divisions.  We feel this will improve your softball experience by providing more balanced playoffs, for everyone.

On our 22 September 2026 Final Championship Day, we will have two Championship Games to share the enjoyment and fun of competing for two of our prestigious Trophies.

Here are your two Divisions.

Your own team’s playoff schedule beginning next Tuesday is now on-line.  Check it out!

Chris, John P, Maureen, Malcolm and myself sincerely hope that you will enjoy this new Playoff format and that your Team experiences more FUN and a more friendly level of competitive play competing with your 5 other teams.

Good luck to Everyone and all our great Teams.  Play safe, and have FUN.

Paddy
613 698 6900

Hello

In 1980 Terry showed us what courage, compassion and determination look like.

On Sunday Sept 20th I’ll be taking part in my 46th consecutive TERRY FOX MARATHON of HOPE in support of cancer research. Recently, I was honoured to receive a 45 year plaque from the Foundation marking my participation in every TERRY FOX Run since its inception in 1981. Over those years, thanks to the incredible generosity of family, friends and supporters, I (we) have raised $140,000 for cancer research. That number means a lot to me, and I’m truly grateful to everyone who has helped make it possible. While the years maybe adding up I refuse to slow down because, as Terry once said, “I’m not a quitter”. If I can do the walking/running I hope you can do the donating.

If you’ve ever been inspired by my commitment to cancer research or simply want to support a guy who refuses to retire from fundraising, please consider sponsoring me today.

I will run, walk, shuffle, or whatever my legs are willing to negotiate that day, for as long as I possibly can. The important thing is that I keep moving forward and keep raising money for a cause that has touched so many lives, my very own family included.

I deeply appreciate your generous support and donation to this meaningful cause. Every dollar helps fund cancer research and helps keep Terrys dream moving forward.

Please click on my page link below to make a donation:

https://run.terryfox.ca/page/nelsonwaddell

Thank you for your generous support!

Hello again Fellow 60+ Players!

Geez, three (3) months of our five (5) month softball season are already in the book!

Next week, we start the August stretch down to the end of our Regular Season, and we have some close races to watch.  But, as we all know from our own experience in this League, that when we hit the Playoffs, anything and everything will happen.  The Playoffs are a brand-new short season, and nobody is out of it!   Any team can win.

Batting Practice Reminder.   So, if you have not been to Larkin’s super batting practice yet, this might be the crucial time of the season to tune-up your swing (and glove, or pitching).

Rain Make-up Day – Wednesday 19 August 2026.  Due to the cancellation of today’s game, Malcolm has scheduled to play those missed games on Wednesday 19 August 2026.  Please mark your schedule.   Hopefully, we’ll dodge any more rain this season.

Heat Protocol.   Thanks to everyone who has been vigilant to be more hydrated, replace electrolytes, bring a snack, and to take breaks in the shade to ensure the maximum of safety for ourselves during this hottest part of the season.

Carlington Park and RA Adventure.  I would be remiss if we did not publicly thank our VP Ops Malcolm (and Carolyn and our great volunteer Captains) for the tremendous extra effort shuttling pitching screens, sourcing and then putting-in bases, and doing all the additional coordination to book our 23^rd of June diamonds/games at Carlington Park.

Thanks also to Ron and John P for their great work to share information with our Players on the website and through John P’s League emails, respectively, during the RA shutdown and parking odyssey.   Everyone’s League-wide cooperation was marvelous.

Team Balancing, AGAIN.  A sincere thank you to those courteous Players who were kind enough to recently switch to a new team and new friends as we attempted to make some minor balancing adjustments.  To those teams, thanks for embracing your new Players.  Despite a great job for 2026, your Executive is already looking at some novel methods so we can make it our 2027 goal, to not move anyone.  It is our intent to meet with your Captains at the end of this season, before our gloves get cold, and look at our 2027 team selection process.  We have already received some great balancing advice from our older players who have seen a few seasons, or twenty.  Thanks to Brian S and others for great insight.

Louise’s Dedicated Umpires – and Richard H.  Hey, I’ve had the opportunity to ump just a few games, but I can tell you that ump’ing after playing a game, or before a game, in this summer heat can knock the socks off you (3+ hours in the heat, I need a long nap).  All of our great volunteer umpires are to be commended for their endurance and commitment to ensuring your games, and our outcomes, have the benefit of independent calls on the field.   Volunteer Umpires began two years ago.   Your positive end of year Surveys in 2024 and 2025 have progressively echoed how you now rely on this feature of our league.  As a result, your Executive is examining a better incentive for these dedicated members of our League, to better sustain this now important component as a fixture of how our League operates.

Ironman.  And, if you haven’t noticed, one umpire Richard has been constantly out on the diamonds ump’ing two games in a row, every week.  Richard, I know you’d rather be playing this year, but we are all indebted to you for carrying the weight of calling 1/3 of our League’s games.  Hats-off to you Richard, our 2026 ironman Umpire, from Louise and all of us!!

Please Support our Sponsors – KS on the Keys next week on Tues 4 August.   Unfortunately, the RA fields were not able to support play today, so we had to delay our Sponsor support at KS on the Keys until next week.  But Chances R, another Sponsor was very pleased to see us in good numbers just a few weeks ago.  I know that sometimes after a game, it is nice to just head home.  But, attending these events as part of your commitment to your League will help us to: (a) retain our Sponsors’ revenues, and (b) keep your own registration fees down.  Please come to KS and the Keys next week as it enables Chris to re-engage our long-time Sponsors annually, to your pocket-book benefit.

Getting to First Base – Dancing on 1 August – Test for a Christmas Dance??   While you did not get a chance to get to first base today due to the rain, this Saturday night, a small Executive group led by Chris our VP Social will be checking-out a seniors’ dance venue at the Centre Pauline Charon in Vanier.   We have attached the advertisement with location and details.  The DJ and Vocalist couple Heart and Soul play our favourite dance music and there is a bar with inexpensive refreshments of all types.  The dance is well attended.  If you want to join us, please come along, and we will all sit at tables together so I don’t have to dance with Chris all night.   The recommended attire is ‘smart casual’ for our singles, ‘casual’ for our couples, and if you have been married for more than 25 years, just come ‘as you are’, no cleats.  And of course, in the highly unlikely and improbable chance you get to first base, yes, NO leading!   You may RSVP with Chris at vpsocial.ottawa60plusslopitch@gmail.com; OR you can just show up if you find that you have nothing to do.  If this activity and location works-out in our attendees’ opinion, your Executive may consider a Christmas Dance in December.   So, come alone, bring a friend, reward your partner with a dance, and maybe work on your footwork for the final stretch run!

Hmmmm, the Softballs.  Malcolm our VP Operations got us a great cost savings discount on new softballs this season.  They are a version of a premium softball that a few of us might be a better performing ball given we are scoring more runs this season.  If anyone has any feedback, we’d be interested to see if you’ve noticed a difference in the ball jumping off your bat?  (I’ve heard that one team now has a couple balls soaking in water for the past few weeks so the balls will be heavier for their playoff games against CMB Canadians and Pontiac Bakery…hmmmm).

Your Ravishing Team Photo.  Thanks to John F’s affinity to herd (people) and to Ron’s web posting, you can start to check-out your colourful Team Photo on the website.  Very professional camera work by John, once again!

Thanks fellows.   Enjoy everyone!

League Mid-Summer Finances.  Just a mention, due exclusively to Maureen’s superb oversight of our finances and payables, the League is operating in the black and we are in good financial shape.   Thanks Mau!

NEW – League Guiding Principles.  As a relatively new Executive, we have great discussions on how and why we make some of our decisions.  Thanks to Ron’s foresight over the past 10+ years as our Webmaster, our League and you have a tremendous website that just doesn’t only tell us our weekly scores, it has a wealth of information on our history and who we are.

Behind the scenes, your Secretary/Registrar John P is kindly reviewing our Constitution/Bylaws and Players’ Handbook on top of his already busy role.

For now, your Executive is proposing to add some DRAFT Guiding Principles to help us not only make good decisions, but to inform new players and yourselves about why we do certain things, like for example:

(a) why we pitch to our own team-mates (unlike Monday and Thursday ball),

(b) why we use 4 pitches versus the traditional 3;

(c) why we have social activities off the field, and

(d) why we run 60 feet to first base and not the standard 65 feet.

You will encounter these proposed DRAFT Guiding Principles again in your end-of-year Survey which Lorne is already contemplating to send to you at the end of the Regular Season.

1. We are Recreational vs Competitive Softball.  With a healthy focus on Competition and maximum focus on FUN for everyone, we attempt to balance our teams’ skill levels so both the Home and Visitor teams’ Players share the same recreational level of excitement, safety, and success during the same game.
2. Social Community.  We sponsor off the field social activities so our Players may develop life-long friendships and we learn more about each other than just playing softball. Our team rosters change every year so we engage new friends.
3. Continuity of Community and Respect.  We encourage our older players/friends to continue to play for as long as they feel safe and regardless of personal competitive level. Our oldest players give our League social and knowledge continuity and great stability.
4. We Welcome Learning.  We mentor new players to the sport who might be playing softball for the first time in their lives and with much less skill level.
5. Sponsor Activities.  When scheduled, we all attend events at our Sponsors so we all retain our Sponsors’ financial support with a view to keeping our Players’ annual registration fees reasonable.

“Captain, oh my Captain”.  And in closing, please hug a Captain!

As your Rookie, I have gotten the opportunity to see beyond my previous Player experience: just coming to the RA, swinging a bat, miss a flyball, eat wings, and go home.  I now have a new appreciation for these leaders who long before we even arrive for a game, they have already: prepared a line-up that tries to keep us and everyone happy, replaced absent or injured players with Spares, fetched and set-up pitching screens, lugged first aid kits and heavier kit bags, ensured new balls are available, plus patted us on the back and said “great” even after the ball goes through/over/under/off/around/by our legs (all of them, in my case).  They fret quietly when they do not have the best balanced team and they put on their best brave smile to meet our long faces, plus they keep an eye out for our safety, among many other duties.

Our dedicated Captains can often go under-recognized, so please, as your season goes on, find a quiet or public moment to show appreciation to your own team’s hard-working volunteer Captain who will always have your best interests at heart.

Kind regards,

Paddy

on behalf of Chris, John P, Malcolm, and Maureen

613 698 6900

• Larkin’s weekly batting practices in Orleans have been very well attended and you can try pitching and practice fielding, too.  It’s a great time to chat with players from other teams in the outfield.  The time and location details are on your website.
• Louise and her gracious Umpires have covered all our games so far, and while our Umps are not formally trained, they do add that very positive element of independence to our calls/results.  From what they seem to yelling at me, I seem to have acquired the nicnkame “You’re Out”.
• John F will soon be making his way around the league with his spirit-catcher to capture your 2026 team photos.
• Lorne is already talking with us about survey questions to pose for your feedback at the end of our season.
• And, at the click of your mouse or tap on your phone, you can catch-up on Ron’s excellent weekly results and newsfeed on your Ottawa 60+ Slopitch website.

Strategy. Our Recreational League is unique because our own Pitchers pitch to our own Team. Our Pitchers, before our batters, are really the key to team success and we want to generate “More New Pitchers”. We hope this new Award will stimulate more interest from more players to try pitching; which will speed our games.

Anyone can Win. This Trophy can be won without using a bat, and without using a glove. With our new pitching screens, it is very safe for anyone who wants to pitch no matter how muscle bound or fast or old you are (or not). If you want to try, why not go to batting practice and try throwing.

More Fun for our Pitchers. In 2026, our teams’ Pitchers will be able to keep an eye on Ron’s weekly statistics on our website and track who is in the running to take home the hardware.

Honouring Bob. This past winter, there was an outpouring of respect for Bob Tripp who was a long-time Pitcher and Captain and friend. Your Executive felt it only appropriate to name the new trophy for Bob. The trophy was donated at no cost to the League. Our newest Bob Tripp Award will be featured at the Opening Breakfast on Tuesday 28 April 2026 at the Royal Oak.

We ask all participants to register. This includes spare players and scorekeepers.
Download the Registration Form HERE
The Registration form is a fill-able PDF format allowing you to directly enter the information. Fill in the required information and save the Registration Form on your computer with a new name. Then attach the new file by email to: ottawa60plusslopitch@gmail.com
There is no fee for spares or scorekeepers.
Prior to playing please familiarize yourself with the rules for our League and the Player Code of Conduct and the Handbook.
At your first game, Captains will ask all Participants to sign the League Waiver.
You can preview the Waiver Form HERE
Be sure to check the NEWS page for current happenings in the League.