Friday, Sept. 3, 2004 | 5:44 a.m.
WEEKEND EDITION
September 4 - 7, 2004
When the Las Vegas Desert Neons senior women's softball team placed second in the 60s division of the USSSA Women's World Championships in Gallatin, Tenn., last September, they made quite a reputation for themselves.
"The other teams said they were going to have to watch out for us in the next year's tournament," said 60-year-old slugger Bobbie Jordan. "We weren't beating all the teams, but we were coming really close.
"This year they'd better look out."
The 60-something team, which for this year's tournament includes 12 local members and three guest players from Arizona and Colorado, is gearing up to shine again at the United States Special Sports Association Senior Women's World Tournament next weekend in Little Rock, Ark.
Having practiced twice a week year-round, the Neons are pretty confident they will once again place in the top three spots, said 61-year-old team manager and player Trish Etheridge.
"We've played seven tournaments so far this year and have won the 60s division in the last six," Etheridge said. "We placed second last year (at the Senior Women's World Tournament) and we're really proud of that. We're going for the gold this year."
The tournament -- compared to the World Series -- is "probably the largest women's-only senior tournament of the year," Etheridge said.
Last year's tournament drew 43 teams from 16 states and Canada, with women ranging from 45 to 65 years and older, according to the USSSA.
The Las Vegas Desert Neons, who are sponsored by Huddleston State Farm, include players between 60 and 67 years old, Etheridge said.
The team was started after a Sun City team entered the National Senior Games in 1997, sparking an interest among other valley seniors, Etheridge said.
"Other area players made a serious effort to start senior women's softball in Las Vegas," she said. "Though we still don't have an actual league, we do now have six or seven teams, which compete in tournaments both locally and all over the country."
The current Las Vegas Desert Neons 60s team spun off from a 55s team three years ago, Etheridge said.
"We played as a 60s team the first year," she said. "We regrouped in 2003, adding several younger players, including an experienced pitcher, and played again as a 55 team until our new players turned 60 this year and allowed us to get back in the 60s division."
Etheridge said while the team is composed of players with different athletic backgrounds, the "ladies gel together nicely" to make a highly competitive and strong team.
"Some have always played ball and others started playing when they were grandmothers," she said. "Like me, I was a grandmother before I ever started. I was a couch potato until I was in my 40s." Other players also have been involved in athletics since childhood.
"I've always been a very athletic person, but I had just never played softball before as a kid," Jordan said. "Then, when I was 27, I tried out for a team. At first, I was standing in the outfield like a typical girl, holding the glove over my head saying 'Oh my God.' Then the coach said if I missed another ball, I wouldn't make the team.
"Well, that made me mad," she said. "So from that point on, I didn't miss a single ball -- just to show him. I've been playing softball ever since."
A native of San Diego, Jordan joined the Neons two years ago, she said.
"At first I didn't know it was a traveling team, but I'm glad that it is, because I've had a lot of fun going all over the place, like Palm Springs and Tucson."
Kay Anderson, a 67-year-old who plays second base, said she's been playing softball since she was 9 years old.
"I was a shortstop on a boys team when I was a kid," Anderson said. "And here I am still playing. Everybody who sees me says they can't believe I'm out there playing softball in the heat, and I just laugh. I'm the oldest one on the team, but I've still got it."
Anderson said she believes the team has a good chance of coming in first place in this year's big tournament.
"We've been working really hard," she said. "We really work great together and think we can really do it this time. And if not, we'll still have a great time. We just have fun playing together because we're a close-knit team."
The bond between her teammates is so great, Anderson considers the Neons "her second family."
"I lost my only son two years ago in an accident, and they were all right there and took charge," Anderson said. "I wouldn't have survived without them there for me."
Jordan agreed.
"These guys are not just friends or teammates, this is a family," she said. "That's what we are -- we are a family."
The Las Vegas Desert Neons is always looking for more senior women to join their family, Jordan said.
Anyone interested in joining the team can call Trish Etheridge at (702) 251-9784.
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