( Photo copyright 2006 by Victor Skrebneski )
Mary Gerrity played in her fifth Gay Softball World Series in late August in Seattle, and already is planning to be back on the mound pitching at the 2009 event, which will be held in Madison, Wis.
So much for the fact she is now 67 and was the oldest player in Seattle.
'When I get out there [ on the field ] , I'm 21 again, [ with ] no aches, pains,' said Gerrity, who lives in Chicago's Portage Park neighborhood. 'Running the bases [ is ] a little tough, and that's about it. During the regular season, I have a courtesy runner [ who run's in a batter's place after the player gets to first base ] , but they didn't have the same courtesy runner rule [ in Seattle. ] Yeah, I'm slow running.
'Except for my running, I think I can compete pretty well.'
Gerrity, who is retired, played for Crush, which finished 3-4 in the Northwest Quest, as the annual tournament was known this year. She drove a CTA truck for 17 years and, for the past four years, has been an usher at Chicago Cubs' games.
'The thing about the Series was, it was a lot of camaraderie. Most of the [ opposing ] teams were nice, gracious. And it was a nice group of women [ to play alongside. ] We had a lot of laughs,' said Gerrity, who was joined in Seattle by her partner, Kathy Winsor, 47.
Most of Gerrity's teammates are in their 20s and 30s. 'Having younger teammates just helps me feel younger. I'm accepted by them,' she said. 'The highlight of the Series was winning two of four [ games ] in pool play.'
Gerrity has been playing organized softball since she was 10.
So how does she keep playing?
'Some of it is good genes. Some of it is that I just keep very active,' said Gerrity, who also regularly rides a bicycle, kayaks, hikes, plays golf and skis cross-country in the winter.