- April 25, 2024
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Doreen Chase works on grounders at Indian Trails Sports Complex. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Doreen Chase works out at the Indian Trails Sports Complex. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Doreen Chase has won three bronze medals at the World Masters Games. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Doreen Chase takes a practice swing at Indian Trails Sports Complex. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Doreen Chase has been playing softball since she was 6 years old. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Doreen Chase plans to play fast-pitch softball in the National Senior Games next month in Fort Lauderdale. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Doreen Chase works on her hitting and fielding at Indian Trails Sports Complex. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Doreen Chase says her color seems to be bronze. She’d like to upgrade to gold.
Chase has won three bronze medals in fast-pitch softball at the World Masters Games.
Next month, the 58-year-old Palm Coast resident will chase gold again when she plays shortstop for a Louisiana fast-pitch team at the National Senior Games in Fort Lauderdale.
She’s never played with that team before. She received a call from a team official saying they were looking for a shortstop.
“I know they’re great players. Apparently, they medal in every (tournament) they go to,” she said.
Chase isn’t worried about fitting in, because the language of softball is universal.
“You can play with someone you’ve never met before if you both know how to play the game,” she said. “It all boils back to the basics. You need to know where you’re going with the ball and where you’re supposed to be. And you always need to know how many outs there are.”
“I always said, when I retire, I’m just going to play softball every day. I’m going to live at the softball fields. I’ll play until I can’t play anymore, which will be a very sad day.”
DOREEN CHASE
Chase has been playing softball since she was 6. She played for her high school team in New Jersey and for Palm Beach Community College.
She’s played in the World Masters Games four times, winning bronze medals in Edmonton, Alberta in 2005; Sydney, Australia in 2009; and Turin, Italy in 2013. Her team fell short in Auckland, New Zealand in 2017.
“When I travel out of the country, I’ll meet people from other countries and other states,” she said. “It’s a great, great way to make new friends. I have made friends all over the world, and it’s lovely.”
Chase’s team will be play in the 55 to 59 age group at the National Senior Games, which will run May 10-23 in Fort Lauderdale. She hopes to play in another World Masters Games. The 2021 games in Japan have been postponed indefinitely because the country is still closed to most travelers.
As she gets older, she adapts her game.
“I don’t think I’m as quick as I used to be, but I’m working on it,” Chase said. “I’ve always played a deep shortstop. I find myself creeping in more now. I still have a good arm.”
Chase works at Security First Insurance in Ormond Beach. She’s preparing for the Senior National Games by taking grounders from her husband, Mark, making trips to batting cages and going to the gym every day to work on her upper body and cardio.
She also plays co-ed slow-pitch softball.
She said she’s probably broken every one of her fingers over the years and has been hit in the face with a fast pitch. But she’s not even thinking about retiring from the sport. Instead, she’s looking forward to joining the daytime senior leagues when she retires from her job.
“I always said, when I retire, I’m just going to play softball every day. I’m going to live at the softball fields,” she said. “I’ll play until I can’t play anymore, which will be a very sad day.”
