Life is a field of dreams for senior softball player, Ray MacDonald

LOWER SACKVILLE, N.S. – When it comes to sports, age catches up with everyone at some point. It just hasn’t caught up with Ray MacDonald yet.

MacDonald has lived three-quarters of a century and is still playing slo-pitch softball and is doing it against players 30 years his junior.

MacDonald started playing baseball when he was 9-years-old and hasn’t stopped. He played senior baseball before switching to fastball, and for the last 30 years has played slo-pitch in the Bedford-Sackville League.

He will turn 76 in August, making him much older than anyone else in the over-45 league. He says the game keeps him young.

“I really enjoy it,” said MacDonald, who pitches with C. & A. Automotive. “We kid around a lot. They joke. If you make a mistake, they let you know about it, and it’s all in fun, really.”

Coach and fellow player Greg Slaunwhite is among the jokesters, but it’s always easier to laugh when your team has a 13-0 record so far this season.

“Ray’s everything to this team,” said Slaunwhite. “I mean, he is a treasure for us. He’s our inspiration.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Ray's everything to this team," said Slaunwhite. "I mean, he is a treasure for us. He's our inspiration."

MacDonald has his own inspiration. His wife of 54 years, Lila, attends almost every game and keeps score.

“It’s fun. I enjoy watching him play,” said Lila.

MacDonald is not only the main team pitcher, he can also contribute with the bat.

“Way to go Raymond,” shouted his wife, as MacDonald lined the ball into right centre field for a single. In this game, he went 5-for-5 with 3 singles, a double and a triple. Teammates call him the old fox.

“Ray gets his share of hits,” said Slaunwhite. “Many nights he’ll get at least two hits a game. Ray’s no slouch up there for his age. Believe me.”

Lila says she worries at times Ray might get hit by a ball, playing against younger and stronger men.

“I do,” she said. “I’m scared he might get hurt. I’m glad that he got the face mask last year, so that if a ball comes back and he doesn’t have the same agility to get out of the way, at least his face is protected.”

One of the keys to MacDonald’s longevity on the ball field is likely his lifestyle.

“I don’t smoke or drink,” he said. “I try to stick to a good diet. I exercise too.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I don't smoke or drink," he said. "I try to stick to a good diet. I exercise too."

MacDonald has been a diabetic for more than 40 years. With the success MacDonald and his teammates are having this year, he’s not about to pack it in just yet.

“I’ll play as long as my health is good,” said MacDonald. “Because I enjoy it. I have a great bunch of guys I play with.”

MacDonald and his wife have also taken up lawn bowling, but he still prefers playing softball. He figures he may dedicate more time to lawn bowling when he’s in his 80’s or 90’s.