The Florida Senior Games Softball Championships take the field at the Ocala Regional SportsPlex, on Saturday, September 27, as the first event of the 2025 Florida Senior Games.

A total of 14 teams will be in action starting with a full slate of games on the four-field complex at 9:00 a.m.  Play continues throughout the day with the final set of games beginning at 3:00 p.m.

The 2025 Championships features nearly 200 players with a wide range of skill levels.  The field includes medal-winning teams from the 2025 National Senior Games, in July, to “draft teams,” featuring a roster of players seeking an opportunity to compete.

The draft team concept was the brainchild of Florida Senior Games Softball sport director and athlete, Avis Vaught, from The Villages.

“We just want to give as many prospective Senior Games athletes the opportunity to get out and play,” she said.  “Once they come out and have a good time on the softball field, maybe they decide to take up another sport in the Florida Senior Games.

Five  “Draft Teams,” made up of over 70 players from the 50+ to 75+ divisions are among the 14 playing in Ocala on Saturday.

“The majority of those folks will do it again,” Vaught said. “I’m expecting them to be back with their same teammates next year since they’ll know what they’re doing.”

On the other end of the skill level, the Golden Players 65+ team earned a silver medal at the 2025 National Senior Games, in Des Moines, Iowa, in July.

Joining the Golden Players for this weekend’s tournament is Lucy Meschede, of The Villages, a recent arrival to the state of Florida.

Besides relocating from Omaha, Nebraska, in December of last year, and facing the challenges of a new home, she’s been overcoming a hand injury suffered while packing for the move. An injury which required surgery to repair tendon damage.

A long-time recreation level player in Nebraska, the local softball community assisted Lucy in getting back on the field.  She needed professional therapy and encouragement from fellow players.

“I injured the middle finger of my left hand,” said Lucy. “I needed work on gripping the bat again and I got down on myself because I couldn’t get my swing right. A lot of nice people helped me and made me feel like I could come through.”

She started playing with the Trailblazers team that features players lacking experience but a desire to play. With more encouragement and work, she caught the eye of the Golden Players manager, Midge Ferraro, and recently traveled to a tournament in Tennessee.

Lucy will be on the field in her usual spot at second base Saturday in Ocala with a little help from her friends.

Teams participating in the 2025 Florida Senior Games Softball Championships
Womens – 50+
TB Draft Fifty
TM Force

Womens – 55+
Golden Players 55
SoCo Battitude
Trailblazers

Womens – 60+
TRAILBLAZERS DRAFT

Womens – 65+
Golden Players
Trailblazers Draft

Womens – 70+
Golden Players 70
Trailblazers Draft

Womens – 75+
Golden Players 75
Trailblazers Draft

Mens – 50+
Central Florida Vipers
Do-Rite