KC Senior Softball

The following is part of your Board of Directors’ ongoing efforts to keep you apprised of the latest KCMSSL happenings.

This Newsletter’s Table of Contents:

  • Monthly Newsletters
  • “Word of Mouth”
  • Membership Dues / Draft Conference Fees
  • Ambassador Jackets / Windbreakers
  • Concussion Policy
  • Honoring Our Members’ Legacy
  • Manager’s Meeting – March 14
  • Thursday Night Women’s Conference at Hartman
  • Want To Umpire?
  • Wes Weddle Classic Tournament Dates
  • Sponsors
  • Pull Tabs

MONTHLY  NEWSLETTERS — ARCHIVED  ON  WEBSITE

Have you ever wished to be able to go back to review some article in one of our past Newsletters??    If so, since October – 2025 we have been adding the KC Metro’s monthly newsletters to our website.   And as we move forward, we plan to continue this process — https://kcseniorsoftball.org/?page_id=10937 .

“WORD  OF  MOUTH”

Who was the last new member you encouraged to join the KCMSSL??   Can’t remember!!??   Well, don’t just “float along” (down the MC Metro river).  It’s time to grab that ambassador paddle.  Be the social outlet answer to one of your fellow citizens who just doesn’t know how or where to look for some fun and exercise.  “Word of Mouth”…it’s a powerful tool!!

Take your KC Metro team shirt–whether it be a draft shirt, or for some competitive team–and transform yourself into a walking marketing billboard…wear it to the coffee shop or the hardware store.   Heading to the gym or to the grocery store with your better half…get comfortable, put on your softball shirt–and if you notice someone taking a little longer than normal look at your shirt, inquire if they’re interested in playing.   New members are out there…they’re begging to join…they just don’t know how or where to look!!   So, present them with the answer!!   Again, “Word of Mouth”…it’s a tremendously powerful tool.

2026  MEMBERSHIP  DUES  &  DRAFT  CONFERENCE  FEES

If you have not yet paid your 2026 membership dues and wish to do so online, you may do so now.  It does not matter if you plan to play only Draft, only Competitive, or both.  If “competitive“, then help your manager so that he / she can start to build your team’s roster in a reasonable timeframe.  Go to our website: https://kcseniorsoftball.org/, then click on the yellow “Online Player Registration” softball icon, log in, and then scroll towards the bottom of your record to pay.   Or you can just click on the following link:  https://leaguesheets.com/league/6.

For Draft Conference Players!!!!   If you wish to pay your draft conference league fees online, you may do so now also.  This can be done at the same time you pay your 2026 membership dues or can be done separately.  Or, you can complete this form (from our website) instead —  https://kcseniorsoftball.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-Draft-Conference-Registration-fillable-3.pdf — and send your check (made out to KCMSSL), or cash, to the designated coordinator at the bottom of the form.

Attention Lifetime KCMSSL Members (i.e., you who have already paid dues “once” as a 75+ year old member):  Don’t forget that you still need to access your record and click on the “Register for 2026 Spring” button.   Otherwise, your manager will not be able to add you to his team roster, nor will we have any record of you participating this season.

If you wish to do any of the above “online”, but you have forgotten your password when attempting to log in, don’t forget to utilize the “Reset it” link directly below the password entry window.

Finally, if you have any trouble navigating any one of the steps / processes above, please contact Bob Fama – bobfama@yahoo.com – 816.679.4912, or Clint Berger – clintberger@hotmail.com – 913.481.7937.

ARE  YOU  A  20  YEAR  KCMSSL  “AMBASSADOR”?

If you will be a 20-year KCMSSL member as of the upcoming 2026 season, you have achieved KCMSSL Ambassador status.  Being “active” for 20 years of play (consecutive or non-consecutive) qualifies you to receive your Ambassador award.   If you have not yet gotten in touch with Barry Gordon about this honor, please contact him (barrygordo@aol.com or 913-827 7722) to confirm your eligibility.  All Ambassador apparel is presented annually at our All Membership Meeting in December.

The board recently approved an enhancement to the current Ambassador Jacket / Windbreaker recognition program.  To date, members who had played 20 years in the league received the Ambassador acknowledgment at our annual membership meeting.  That criterion has not changed.   However, the program has expanded to also recognize members who have served the league in long-term leadership roles–i.e., being a board member, a conference coordinator, and/or a manager.  A total of “20 points” are necessary to be recognized as an Ambassador.  Each member receives 1 point towards that 20-point total as noted below:

  • For each season of play
  • Each year being a board member
  • Each year being a conference coordinator
  • Each year being a team’s lead team manager

CONCUSSION  POLICY

Kansas City Metro Senior Softball League games and other activities involve risks and dangers of injury.  Accidents may occur, often without the fault of any participant.  KCMSSL does not provide medical assistance at any venue.  The league recognizes that the potential for harm from concussions is a serious matter.  While some accidents leading to concussion may occur, the goal of the league’s Concussion Policy is to limit the potential harm that could result from continued participation after such an injury.

The Concussion Policy of KCMSSL is as follows:

When any participant in a league game or other activity has reasonable cause to believe that a concussion may have occurred to another person, the participant is asked and encouraged to talk to the injured person and ask that they not continue participation in the game or other activity until the person can consult with a health care professional.

Every participant in a league game or other activity is asked and encouraged to comply with the requests of umpires, managers, teammates, and other league members to refrain from further play until the participant can consult with a health care professional.

Managers and umpires are not health care professionals.  They have no responsibility to evaluate a player’s health.  Because managers are responsible for their lineups, they are always authorized to remove a player based on the manager’s assessment of the player’s health.  Umpires are likewise authorized to remove a player from the game if the umpire reasonably believes that continued play endangers the player or others.

Because there is no health care professional on site to evaluate a participant’s health, for concussion or any other injury, it is ultimately the responsibility of each individual participant to determine the status of their health and whether it is appropriate for them to continue or return to play.

If you wish to read more about the symptoms or danger signs of a concussion and what to do if you encounter someone with a concussion, please click on this link from our website to read more: https://kcseniorsoftball.org/?page_id=31

HONORING  OUR  MEMBERS’  LEGACY  WITHIN  KCMSSL

As members of the Kansas City Metro Senior Softball League (KCMSSL) community, we share not only the love of softball but also the friendships and memories that come with it. Many of us have played, coached, and volunteered together for years, building a league that feels like family.
From time to time, families of our members ask how they can honor their loved one’s memory. One meaningful way is to suggest donations to KCMSSL in lieu of flowers or other gifts. These contributions help sustain the league’s programs and ensure that future generations can enjoy the same fellowship and competition we’ve all experienced.
If you’d like your family to consider this option, you might wish to mention KCMSSL in any personal instructions or obituary notices. Donations may be made directly to KCMSSL, and all gifts will be used to continue supporting our mission of providing safe, fun, and inclusive senior softball opportunities for all the men and women in the Kansas City area.
We deeply appreciate the lasting impact each member makes on our community—both on and off the field. Thank you for being part of the KCMSSL family.
Memorial checks made payable to KCMSSL can be mailed directly to Paul Heacock, 11538 South Carriage Road, Olathe, KS 66062. For more information about how to make or designate memorial donations, please contact Paul Heacock at pheacock@BasicRelationships.com or by phone at 913-707-7079.

2026  TEAM  MANAGERS  —  SAVE  THE  DATE

Our 2026 Managers’ Meeting will be held on March 14 at 10:30 AM at the Mid-Continent Library – Community Room — 12930 Booth Lane, Grandview, MO 64030-2682 – https://maps.app.goo.gl/j1ovmFCY8z5tHMgr6 .   The library does open (on Saturday) until 10:00, so feel free to get there in time to socialize a bit prior to the 10:30 start time.  Due to this later start time, we will NOT be providing coffee or donuts.

If you will be the manager of your team for the upcoming season, please save the date accordingly.  There are a number of rule changes being made this season, both competitive and draft, that we feel you need to know.   If you wish to bring your assistant manager or others with you to the meeting, please feel free to do so.   At the same time, if you are the manager and are unable to attend, we encourage you to send someone in your place.

We also suggest you inquire with your corresponding conference coordinator(s) to find out if he / she plans to have a “mini breakout session” immediately after the Manager’s Meeting, to discuss specifics for your conference.

THURSDAY  NIGHT  35+  WOMEN’S  CONFERENCE  @  HARTMAN  PARK

Do not forget about our 35+ women’s conference at Hartman Park – 700 SW Pryor Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 – https://goo.gl/maps/WJ7mbyizpLENF986A  on Thursday nights.  2026 will be the start of their 5th season at Hartman.

If you are an individual who is interested but currently does not have a team on which to play, do not worry!!   This is a hybrid conference…meaning full teams can come in, or you can join as an individual and simply be placed onto one of the teams.  This is a great opportunity for someone within that 35-39-year-old age group who wishes to get in “on the ground floor” with the KCMSSL, as well as providing the metro’s 40+ women another night to play.

Doubleheader games start April 16th, with each week’s first game starting at 7:00.  There were 5 teams again in 2025–the same as in 2024.  Deb Brown would like to increase this number to 6 teams this year–so everyone gets to play every week.

If interested, or if you know of someone who has been waiting to join…please contact Deb Brown for more information — brownchild1@aol.com – (816) 678-9158.

WANT  TO  UMPIRE?

We are always in need of good umpires with senior softball experience.  Where better to recruit from than our own membership, who are playing the game?   Even better, over half of you are already accustomed to making the calls, so you have experience as an umpire. 🙂

But seriously, we are always in need of umpires.  Call the Game pays well for the scheduled one-hour 7-inning games, and the owner (John Dehan) will work around your playing schedule.   You pick the days and locations you want to work.  Think about it.   If you work just one game, you pay for your membership dues.  10 games will get you that new bat you’ve been wanting.  You could actually play for free all season!!   The available options:

  • Monday:
    • Night games at Independence Athletic Complex – competitive (Independence, MO)
    • Mornings at Frank White Sports Complex – Draft (Lee’s Summit, MO)
    • Night games at Hartman Park – competitive (Lee’s Summit, MO)
  • Tuesday:
    • Night games at Independence Athletic Complex – Draft (Independence, MO)
    • Night games at Black Bob Park – competitive (Olathe, KS — available through Olathe Parks & Recreation)
  • Wednesday:
    • Night games at Hartman Park – competitive (Lee’s Summit, MO)
  • Thursday:
    • Morning games at Frank White Sports Complex – Draft (Lee’s Summit, MO)
    • Night games at Hartman Park – competitive (Lee’s Summit, MO)
    • Night games at Heritage Park – competitive (Olathe, KS – Johnson County Parks & Recreation)
  • Saturday:
    • Morning games at Roe Park – Draft (Overland Park, KS)
  • Sunday:
    • Evening games at Black Bob Park – competitive (Olathe, KS — again, this is through Olathe Parks & Recreation)

If you have any questions or simply feel umpiring is something you would like to do, please email John Dehan at Ref@callthegame.com

SAVE  THE  TOURNAMENT  DATES

Our Wes Weddle Classic tournament ($450 entry fee, 4-game guarantee) is set as follows:

  • The 50-55’s will play April 25-26 at Black Bob Park – 14500 151st St, Olathe, KS 66062 – https://maps.app.goo.gl/oYcaVdqQJ7FjKAzTA
  • The 65-80-year-old teams will then play at the Frank White Sports Complex on Thursday and Friday, April 30 – May 1 – 3901 SW Longview Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 – https://maps.app.goo.gl/wSDLFjTKESqamksw8 .
  • Those games will be followed by the 60+ teams on Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3…again at Black Bob Park.
  • During that same timeframe (i.e., May 2-3) the 40’s thru 60’s WOMEN will be playing at Happy Rock Park – 7565 NE Antioch Road, Gladstone, MO 64119 – https://maps.app.goo.gl/cVoyDfe9K9vaRqUT7

Neither you nor your teammates have to be KCMSSL members to participate, but to be eligible to win your age group’s division, you do need to be a member of SSUSA (Senior Softball-USA).   If any of your team’s members are NOT registered with SSUSA, you may still enter the tournament — as an exhibition team.

If interested, contact Clint Berger – clintberger@hotmail.com – 913.481.7937, or any of your 2026 board members – https://kcseniorsoftball.org/?page_id=70 .

SPONSOR  —  STERLING  WELLNESS

We have a new sponsor for the upcoming 2026 season.  Sterling Wellness is a premier medical clinic and wellness center in Prairie Village, Kansas, dedicated to helping clients look, feel, and perform at their best. Combining advanced treatments with a personalized approach, Sterling Wellness offers cutting-edge solutions that support longevity, vitality, and confidence at every age. Our skilled team integrates science with functional medicine and care to craft treatment plans tailored to each individual’s goals—whether to achieve weight loss goals, hormone balance, or overall physical optimization.

Peptide therapies can be a game-changer for adults, young and old. Peptides naturally support the body’s repair and recovery systems, helping enhance energy, muscle tone, endurance, and joint resilience—all crucial for staying competitive and pain-free on the field. By optimizing cellular regeneration and hormonal balance, Sterling’s peptide protocols can help players recover faster, reduce fatigue, and maintain lean strength—so they can keep swinging, running, and winning well beyond the scoreboard.

Step up to the plate with confidence, stay strong inning after inning, and let Sterling Wellness help you play the game—of softball and life—with more power, precision, and longevity.  Several KC Metro members are already customers of Sterling Wellness, 3800 W 75th St, Studio 3, Prairie Village, KS 66208 — https://www.sterlingwellnessmedspa.com/, or 913.456.3061.

OUR  NEWEST  SPONSOR — DEVOTED HEALTH

Devoted Health is on a mission to dramatically improve the health and well-being of older Americans.  We offer Medicare Advantage plans, but that is just the start.  We listen to our members so we can support them in living the lives they want.  We have to deeply support our members’ well-being with benefits, systems, and support designed for relationships, trust, and empathy.  For better health outcomes and lower costs, it’s all about delivering the right care at the right time in a consistent, coordinated, proactive way.

For more information, check us out at https://www.devoted.com or contact your trusted Medicare advisor. If you do not have a trusted Medicare Advisor, a great resource would be Bryan Thomas at 615-364-8862.

 

CONTINUE  TO  SAVE  THOSE  PULL  TABS!!!!   

Got aluminum pull tabs for Deb Brown?   Bring them with you to the Managers’ Meeting on March 14th.

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