Published: July 02, 2009 12:24 am      

For Boyer, softball has been love of lifetime

Nancy Boyer didn't realize when she was playing ball as a child with her brothers Bill and John, that she had found a passion that would last a lifetime. After recently celebrating her 70th birthday, Boyer continues with that passion and plays softball for the love of the game.

"My oldest brother Bill, who was four years older than me, and my brother John, who was two years younger than me, and I would play around the yard," said Boyer. "One would pitch, one would catch and one would bat. I would never admit to them I was scared to death to catch."

When Boyer reached the age of nine she could compete on a girls softball team in the summer at her home town of Strasburg.

"There was really no age range," said Boyer. "We had my age up to high school, all on the same team. We had some girls from Effingham, Neoga, Cowden and Windsor. Local teams from around here would come and play us. The girls team always outdrew the boys. We played once a week.

"I either pitched or played second base, but when I got older I played shortstop or third base. I was here in Strasburg until 1961, that's when I joined the women's Army Corps. There were two or three of us that talked about going into the military. I went into the Army and a cousin in Stewardson went into the Air Force."

Boyer, the daughter of Paul and Marie Boyer, came back to Illinois recently for a family reunion. She was one of nine children, with three brothers and five sisters. A sister, Paula Jones, and a brother, Dave Boyer, live in Strasburg. Her brother John is the only other one who still lives in Illinois.

Boyer served in the Army for six years and was on active duty for 14 years in the reserves.

"There were all kinds of sports teams in the military," continued Boyer. "Three of my six years I spent in Orleans, France. While I was stationed there, we had one of the better softball teams around. We played against some teams from Holland who invited us to compete. I still correspond with one of those girls. There were three teams in France and most of our tournaments were played in Germany. I got to see a lot of countries.

"I came back to Ft. Sam Houston in Texas and by then the Army was phasing out team sports. When I got out of the service, I went to California and played a couple of years there on a local team. Then I didn't play again until I headed to Florida in 2005."

Although Boyer was out of softball for quite a while, she kept in good shape as she was a mail carrier.

"I carried mail and then I became a supervisor," said Boyer. "I walked a route and I don't have any trouble with my legs now. A lot of people who come back to play have trouble playing because of their legs."

After Boyer retired, she headed to The Villages, between Ocala and Leesburg, Fla.

"I decided it was time to get out of California. I lived in Carson which is close to Long Beach. It's just wall-to-wall people and bumper-to-bumper traffic out there anymore. I had friends who lived in The Villages and I decided that would be a good place to go.

"They have a recreation league that plays two days a week. There are two divisions with about seven teams. People in their mid-40s up to a lady I know who is 84, play. She's very active. I play left field now because I can still run pretty well. I also play on a traveling senior team. It's a 70-plus team.

"The teams start with the 50s as the youngest and then there are five year increments. We have a couple hundred men play. There is also a mixed league on Saturdays, but my team is all women. We have some good coaches who are retired physical education teachers."

Boyer plays for the Golden Girls.

"I'm a good hitter. My batting average has been around .600. I've been very lucky because my bat has come alive in tournaments and the leagues. We're a part of the Senior Players Softball Association and I was named to the All-American Team for the first two tournaments.

"Our Golden Girls team is preparing to go to California for the National Senior Games. We won two years ago in Louisville, Ky. We play tournaments and we have to have fundraisers to raise money for these trips. We have raffles, garage sales and 50-50 drawings."

Boyer also has taken up golf recently.

"When I was in the military we had bowling, basketball, volleyball and softball," said Boyer. "I always liked softball and baseball. My parents were Cubs fans and I always liked the Giants. My three brothers were Dodger fans.

"I just took up golf recently. Nancy Lopez has a home where I live and Arnold Palmer has a course there. I've tried golf and it's a lot of fun. But I think I'll always love softball the best."

She's proved that. Starting as a youngster and competing on her first team at age nine, she's still going strong at age 70.

Millie Lange can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 123 or millie.lange@effinghamdailynews.com.