Slo Pokes still going strong after 40 years of play
Who could have imagined, back in 1983 that the group of women who met at Cathy Lowe’s home to discuss forming a slowpitch team would still be taking to the field forty years later.
The decision was made that the women gathered in the kitchen would be on one team and those in the living room would be another.
Lynn Somerville was one of those women. She says, because people naturally gravitate toward people that they feel comfortable with it worked out well.
Initially, the Slo Pokes joined the start up slowpitch league in Stayner. Before long, the league became quite competitive and started playing three nights per week. This was a bit much for the Slo Pokes who were more interested in a ladies’ night out so they started their own recreational league in Creemore. At some point, they switched from slowpitch to three-pitch, a game in which there are only three pitches per batter and the pitcher throws to her own players. Now the ladies play on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Because there are no lights at Gowan Park, games must wrap up before dark, which suits them just fine.
The Creemore three-pitch league is composed of four teams: the Slo Pokes, the Dirty Pitches, C U Next Thursdays and the Clams.
The group is very social. They rotate houses for a gathering after each game. They also get together for a Christmas party and an ornament exchange, and each October have a team getaway. Past trips have taken them to New York, Las Vegas and Muskoka.
Somerville is the only original team member who has played continuously, although Mary Ann Carruthers another original member now acts as scorekeeper, and Carol Pilkey has returned after taking a few years off.
The team has a roster of 25 players and there is a waiting list each year for women who wish to join. Preference is given to former members who wish to return, as well as daughters and daughters-in-law. Over the years they have celebrated the births of many children and grandchildren, and mourned the deaths of several husbands and a few players. Through it all, Somerville says the group has become an amazing support network.
The group has sold a couple of team cookbooks to raise funds for a sister-in-law with ALS as well as some fundraising walks. They are currently making plans to help a player diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
Most of the Slo Pokes players are aged 55 and up, with the youngest players in their early 20s. Somerville, now 61, says she’ll continue to play as long as she’s physically able, and as long as her friends are still playing.
Trina Berlo photo: Top left row from left: Jody Hodgins (6), Jessie Richards (5), Tammy Zeggil (20), Palma Van De Gevel (15), Brenda Johnston (2), Nicole Nicholson (1), Lynne Somerville (40), Mary Ann Carruthers (40), Judith Crawford (21), Heidi Forster (13), Tracey Swanton (32). Middle row: Ally McLeod (1), Shae Denys (1). Front: Cathy Sherlock (33), Karen McKee (32), Chris Mazur (38), Heather McLeod Soward (20), Marie Leroux (16), Nancy Keith (33), Leslie Beattie (30). Absent: Jennifer Meesters (32), Carol Pilkey (40), Janice McLeod (30), Kim Hanna-Hodgins (31), Nadine Schweishelm (1), Mariska Vermeer (2), Tara Eskra (6). The numbers indicate the number of years each player has been on the team.
