Senior Softball League And Weekly Hitting Club Comes To Beaufort

story by KATE HAMILTON PARDEE           photos by PAUL NURNBERG

If you build it, they will come.” This familiar and often paraphrased movie quote rings true upon first meeting with Doug Newton, and hearing and learning about his passion for starting a senior softball league and weekly hitting club in Beaufort.

For this retired publishing executive, it all began in his neighborhood block of Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Newton was five years old, and his mom had developed a real liking for baseball from her father, who had immigrated from England. Channeling his mother’s enthusiasm, Newton soon found a group of athletic and like-minded boys to play baseball with in empty schoolyards and vacant driveways. Together, they discovered and learned their love of the game, using their handmade bats until the skies grew dark, and they heard their mothers calling them in for supper. Cleveland was home to the Indians, a major league team, and he was and is a devoted fan. Neighborhood ball gave way to Little League, and he learned to play shortstop and pitcher. One of his first coaches, George Ryder, made quite an impression on the team when it was time to hand out their very first uniforms. He said, “First thing — if you dress like a pro, you will play like a pro.” There was no turning back after that; Newton had caught the baseball bug.

Newton continued to play ball after college and transitioned from baseball to softball. “There is a beauty and symmetry to the game when it is played well. The five skills — hitting, hitting for power, speed, fielding, and throwing — are essential, but so are the intangible skills: a desire to play, a positive attitude, and being supportive of teammates. I have seen many skilled players lose games because they were not together as a team.”

Newton graduated from The Ohio State University, but along the way attended Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland to pursue journalism, where three consecutive graduates from the Columbia School of Journalism headed that department. He moved to Connecticut to work for one of the professors at Media & Consumer magazine. He then moved on to the Columbia Journalism Review. During this time, Newton still played softball. He often had to run to catch the commuter train back to New Canaan, CT. He fondly recalls his boss, Edward W. Barrett, knowing his love of the game and allowing him to leave early so he could just barely make it to the field on time to play.

During this time, Doug also met Abby, his wife of 40 years, who worked at Bloomingdale’s in nearby Stamford, CT. They got married, and now Doug had another supporter at his games to cheer on him and his teammates.

The first Senior tournament he played was the Senior Cape Cod Classic in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, over a very cold and rainy weekend in 2009. Abby attended but had to return home to CT on Sunday because of a work commitment. Newton, with a twinkle, says, “As she left to drive home alone, she rolled down the window and said, ‘You better win that darn trophy.’” Win they did, and once they made the trip back to Connecticut, he and two teammates celebrated at Newton’s home with a delicious spread that Abby had laid out for them. Doug says, “They still talk about that win and Abby’s much-appreciated BLTs.”

In 2013, Doug and Abby bought a house and moved to Beaufort. Coming off a 170-game season up North, he was anxious to find some local teams and continue playing. He posted a listing on the Senior Softball-USA bulletin board to find a team. Literally, 15 minutes later, Dennis Lynch responded and introduced him to Share, a men’s over-fifty team grandfathered into the coed division of Beaufort Adult Softball’s program. They recruited him to play for Ralph Vestuti’s Tri-State Rebels, a tournament travel team.

As Newton remembers, “Dennis rescued me from softball oblivion through some local but mostly travel ball. Now I want to create a place where softball players of all ages and talent can gather weekly, hit balls, and make new friends in the game we all love.”
The Lowcountry Hitting Club began at Burton Wells fields. Newton formed this group to encourage an informal weekly batting practice for all skills and ages. He explained, “This format gives skilled players, both men and women, an opportunity to hit more frequently, and less skilled players an opportunity to learn. They can get comfortable before moving on to league ball at the county level.”

Beaufort County offers four Adult Softball Divisions (Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Coed) open to any age. They play two seasons — Spring and Fall — with 10-12 games each season. Now thanks to the County support and the work of Senior Softball Beaufort co-organizers Dave Hofmann and Rick Trenary, the County will add a Senior Division this spring. Doug says that the division is open to male and female players, 55 years and older. Five to six teams (75 to 90 players) are expected this first season. It looks like there is excellent support for a 55 and older league.

Newton stays in shape by working out with Beaufort trainer Asa Haskins. Asa told him about a guy who pounded balls off a batting tee at the Naval Hospital next to Ribaut Road, and Newton went on the hunt to meet him. One day, after a hitting session at Burton Wells, a gentleman came up to ask if there were any senior softball leagues he could join in Beaufort. Sure enough, it was “the guy Asa had told me about, and with the nickname, Shrek, for the way he hit the ball, we recruited him quickly.”

Beaufort County’s softball season is quickly approaching. It is easy to understand Doug’s passion and commitment to the game and how he has found a way to reach out to others who are interested. “Joy, fun, friendship, and humility are all attributes for these team members,” Newton says.“I chat with CEOs, police officers, carpenters, mothers, airline pilots, accountants, and truck drivers. We all share a love of the game and, of course, for the stories we all swap.”

The Lowcountry Hitting Club practices every Wednesday at Burton Wells in Beaufort. Newton says, “No need to sign up, just show up and join the fun.” The Senior Division games will be at Oscar Frazier and MC Riley fields in Bluffton. All other divisions will play there, too, along with practices. Information on the Senior Division is available at SeniorSoftballBeaufort.com.