Old boys had one more game in them
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

Greg Hoover announced the players but depended on Vic Barkdoll, right, to supply the correct names during the Ol' Boys Baseball Game. Barkdoll coached some of the younger players when they were in Pony League, and played alongside some of the older fellows in the Adult League years ago.

No one said you get what you pay for, but when volunteer umpire Russ Clever called an obvious out 'safe' and volunteer announcer Greg Hoover backed him up, that's exactly what you got.

The fans who paid free admission to Barkdoll Field witnessed a home run on that call. And the Ol' Boys Baseball Game continued, another tradition during Old Home Week.

When the 4:30 game ended an hour later last Wednesday, no one knew the score and no one cared. It was played in good fun and the players, all 35 years or older, were still standing, though sweating profusely in the sweltering heat.

Walter Kershner won the fans' hearts immediately. At 90, he was the oldest player. After a swing and a miss, he said, "Let me take my glasses off."

He then proceeded to hit the ball and trotted off toward first. Clever ordered him to walk and escorted him to the base.

Kirk Christman, Mike Stouffer and Lon Barkdoll, by donning uniforms for the Ol' Boys Baseball Game, admit they are at least 35 years old.

Wayne Lutz was at the plate for a while. He took a ball, a strike, a strike, a foul, another strike, a foul, a strike and finally hit a pop fly. Ignominiously out, he said later he had missed batting practice and was just warming up.

First National Bank of Greencastle, sponsoring the event for the fourth time, provided the uniforms. Teams were selected by the color of the jersey each man picked up. Bank employees handed out free water, popcorn, snow cones and cardboard fans.

Hoover generously offered free popcorn to anyone who returned errant balls.

The players were a motley crew in their uniforms. At least the red and blue jerseys and caps matched. The guys showed up in regulation pants or jeans or shorts. Some of those shorts were baggy and others were tight, a testament to the passing years. Their socks were white or blue, mid-calf in length or ankle riders. The guys wore cleats or plain old sneakers.

Carl Piper, Tim Walck and Wayne Lutz insisted they were not benched during the baseball game.

They could still hit, if pitchers Todd Barkdoll and Carl Dixon chose to put the ball over the plate. Some of the line drives and sailing arcs were a wonder to behold. The fielders could still catch and throw from afar.

The hundreds of spectators in the grandstands, bleachers and lawn chairs were not particularly safe from foul balls, though. Cries of 'heads up' were common.

While the glory days are gone for the good old boys, they still had the ability to entertain a crowd. The boys of summer carried on America's pastime one more day.

Fans kept cool in the covered bleachers during the oldtimers baseball game Aug. 8.