The Major League Baseball season has been delayed because of a contentious labor dispute holding up a new collective bargaining agreement. However, it’s all systems go for the Northern Allegheny County Senior Softball League. NACSSL, for players ages 52 and older, is accepting registration for the 2022 season. New player evaluations begin this month. The season is slated to start May 2. "Players have to try out and be drafted onto a team,” said NACSSL spokesman Jim Grosjean. "As you might imagine, there is attrition every year due to players getting older, injuries, and more recently, covid-19. If player turnout continues to be good, we will expand to more teams. "We’re looking forward to another enjoyable, complete season without any covid interruption and expanding the number of teams in the league.” Grosjean’s title within the league is "de facto public relations person.” He has been acting in that capacity for three months. And it’s a new position. "No member has ever done such work before,” Grosjean said. Grosjean, 68, has done a yeoman’s job in providing intricate information about the long-standing softball organization. Take a look: • NACSSL is a competitive, slow-pitch softball league for seniors with games played primarily at the North Park Senior Ballfield Complex at the Lodge at North Park. Grosjean said the league is considered the premier senior softball league in Western Pennsylvania. • Players range in age from 52 to 80. Most live in Allegheny County, but some travel from several surrounding counties to participate. • More than 200 players compete on 16 teams in two age divisions: Silver Division (ages 52-61) and Gold Division (62 and older). • Silver Division games are held at Lambert Field, with outfield dimensions of 300 feet to both right and left and 290 feet to center. The outfield is surrounded by an 8-foot fence. • Just beyond the center field fence is the North Park water tower, which was built in 1937. It is 102 feet tall, has a diameter of 25 feet and holds 300,000 gallons of water. Picturesque. • Gold Division games are played at Mashuda Field. The dimensions there are slightly smaller: 276 feet to left, 277 feet to center, 263 to right. The outfield fence is 4 feet high. • All the teams in the league are sponsored and have uniforms sporting the sponsor’s name. • Larry Gaertner, 81, is believed to be the oldest and longest-tenured player in the league. He manages the BMF team in the Gold Division, and also pitches. He is considered a legend in Pittsburgh softball lore. Gaertner played for the Pittsburgh Gold team that won the gold medal in the 2005 National Senior Games held in the North Hills. He also won a national championship playing for an over-55 team. According to the Grosjean, players get involved in the league for many reasons. Some sign up because they want to stay in shape physically, mentally and socially as they get older, and some because of the competition and opportunity to make new friends. Others join because of the well-maintained facilities that are utilized. About 40 to 50 players are members of traveling regional and national tournament teams. "However, the majority of players are average guys who still enjoy the game they grew up playing as kids,” said Grosjean, an outfielder for Aetna, which competes in the Gold Division. "I can still run well, and I resumed playing three years ago after a 30-year layoff after helping my wife raise our family.” Teams play an average of two games per week from May to July. All teams participate in a double-elimination tournament during the month of August. There actually are four defending champions in the league. F&V Fireworks won the regular-season title last year in the Silver Division; the Mold Men squad was the end-of-season tournament champion. F&V team members include pitchers Gerard Blair and Gene Kushon, infielders John Sapsara, Frank Hawryliak, Bill Dadowski, Bill Jerich, Trent Moore and Craig Gehm, outfielders Ron Atkinson, Bob Baker, Mike Diskin, Lee Lawver and Ray Hensler, plus two rovers, Paul Cotton and Steve Matakovich. Briar Cliff took first place in the Gold Division regular season; Monte Cello’s won the end-of-season tournament. Briar Cliff team members include pitchers William Lowe and Patrick McClellan, catcher Larry Spontak, infielders Randy Doman, Frank Van Atta, Dave Edwards, Mike Ramsden, Larry Newman and Wayne Wadsworth and outfielders Steve Kasunich, Ron Hoellein, Michael Rosswog, Bob Janosko and Michael O’Toole and Paul Pugliese, who is on injured reserve. New player registration and evaluation are held in late March or early April at the senior ballfield complex. The registration fee is $120. "The NACSSL is a friendly, competitive league where new eligible players must register,” Grosjean said. "Then, they must participate in two of the three scheduled tryout sessions where team managers evaluate their talent. A week later, the eligible players are drafted by each team in reverse order of the regular season standings.” "Depending on the registration turnout and the needs of each team, not every eligible player is drafted. Players not drafted can participate in the league’s Platinum Division, which is more informal and plays pickup games on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at the North Park Senior ball field complex. I should add that while the league is currently all male, it is open to women. Team managers are interesting in winning and want talent regardless of gender.” League officers consist of Ron Zankey (president), Wayne Wadsworth (vice president), Elmer Ebeck (treasurer), Chuck Heilmann (secretary) and Bob Zajac (rules chairman). To sign up or for more information, visit the league’s website at www.nacssl.com or email nacssl@yahoo.com. Ray Fisher is a freelance writer. 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