Are you really ever too old to have fun?

What about having fun playing softball?

If you thought the answer to both of those questions was yes, then you haven&8217;t met Russ Arthur.

Arthur, who will soon turn 64, helped start a senior softball league that plays ball at Fun Go Holler Park behind the Pelham Racquet Club in Pelham.

He said there are four teams to date which play ball on Tuesday mornings and which practice on Thursday mornings. The age range is 54 to 78.

But if you think that&8217;s something, Arthur said when he lived in California there was a senior softball league with eight teams and membership age range of 55 to 83.

He said once he began playing softball, he found he had made more than 100 friends.

Arthur moved to Pelham two years ago and decided he wanted to start a league like they had in California.

He said he spoke to Pelham Mayor Bobby Hayes who recommended he contact Rich Nicodemus, Hollis Beecham and Bill Golden, who was in charge of getting fast pitch umpires for college play.

Arthur said the league began with two teams and grew to its present size. He said if necessary to have a game, players are borrowed from other teams. And the competition continues from March though mid October.

Arthur explained that a lot of guys play church ball from ages 40 to 45 and quit. He said the senior softball league &8220;gets us off our backsides, getting exercise, good fellowship and friends.

&8220;Although our first two years have seen our games played in the daytime, I suspect that our games next year will be in the evening, and I think there will be many men who are not retired, but over 55 who will be able to join us,&8221; said Arthur.

&8220;The only stipulation is that we do not take in entire teams … individuals join the league and the coaches and other board members make up the teams in the interest of having competitive teams.&8221;

Arthur said, &8220;It&8217;s not much fun for anyone if one team comes in and totally dominates the rest.&8221;

Current teams and their memberships include:

People Movers White: Joe Doyle, Ben Holmes, Mark Brannin, Bob Schnell, Gary Meadows, Wayne Sheets, Elmer Palm, Donald Powers, John Ard, Jim Byrd and Roy Sims, manager.

People Movers Purple: Johnny Andrews, Larry Crews, Hollis Beecham, Jim Miller, Mike Jackson, Roger Salter, Howard Horne, Frank Shurgart, manager, Ruth Miller, Jim Park, Wayne Bozeman and Dick Baguley .

Ballantrae Developers: Ron Oliver, Wayne Graham, Olan Hyde, Bill Laskoski, Jon Gilbert, Glenn Vinson, Russ Arthur, Dennis Horne, Harmon Turner, Bill Gravel, George Williams and

Steve Olis, manager.

Gary Wyatt Builders: Bob Hunter, Marvin Entrekin, Robert Bowden, Carl Pender, Marty Wagnon, Fred Jewell, Bob Moore, Larry Enzweiler, Allen Golsan, David Hayes and Rich Nicodemus, manager.

Anyone with questions or who wishes to join the league should contact Arthur at a 663-7597 or at 807-3746