“For the love of softball.”

That’s the motto of the Montana Big Sky fastpitch softball team, a group of 50-plus players from around the state. It definitely has to be love to stick with something as long as these guys have nn and to fight as hard as they have to keep the sport alive.

The team will participate in the ASA National Men’s Seniors Softball Tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Sept. 26-28. This will be their second journey to nationals in three years.

Four Helena players make up the Montana Big Sky roster: Jim Martin, a pitcher and the oldest of the group at 69-years-old; catcher Dallas Reese, 58; Vern Grimsrud, pitcher/infield/outfield, 56; and shortstop/second base/third base Jim Pellegrini, 56.

“We firmly believe that we’re capable of doing very well down there,” said Martin, a grandfather three times over.

Fastpitch softball had been contested locally since the 1940s. During its heyday from the 1960s to the ’80s, there were 12-14 teams in the City League. But the game’s popularity began to dwindle in the 1990s, eventually fading to the point that there were no fastpitch teams in Helena by 2003.

The next year, Martin, Reese and Grimsrud made a concerted effort to reinstitute the sport. And although they were unable to keep the league going here, they did succeed in putting together a seniors team.

Most of their players came from the Blackfoot League, which is an adult circuit of about eight teams between Missoula and Helena.

“We’re still hopeful of a revitalization of the sport statewide. At least now there is another Helena team (besides the seniors) for the first time in several years, which plays in the Blackfoot League,” Martin said.

The four men have a combined total of over 170 years of fastpitch experience. Martin first started when he was about 10 years old in California in the 1950s, with the rest playing in the men’s leagues in high school in the late 1960s.

Pellegrini nn the longtime commissioner of the Helena Softball Association nn played at Washoe Park in Anaconda. Grimsrud saw action for Plentywood and was part of the 1968 state fastpitch championship team. His teams also competed in numerous tournaments in Canada.

Reese played Havre Legion baseball and men’s fastpitch softball at the same time. He was a member of the 1968 class A legion championship team, which lost a challenge game to get to the AA tournament to the eventual state champion Helena Senators.

“There were six of us on the Legion who also played in Havre’s men’s fastpitch league, because they couldn’t find a rule against doing it,” Reese laughed. Two of those Havre teammates from 40 years ago have joined him on the current seniors club.

The Montana Big Sky is an appropriate name for the group, as the roster is comprised of guys scattered around the state. They come from Helena, Missoula, Havre, Frenchtown, Seeley Swan and Roundup, in addition to one each from Idaho and Seattle. Five of the players are Blackfoot League members.

Perhaps the group’s most inspirational player is 59-year old pitcher Sam Richter of Missoula. Richter, who formerly played in Helena, underwent quintuple bypass heart surgery just 18 months ago.

“Sam has made an amazing recovery, he is throwing the ball as well or better than I’ve ever seen him,” Martin said.

It was Richter who coined the team’s motto.

In 2006, the Montana Big Sky competed in the National tournament in Prescott, Ariz. They won two games at nationals, tying for seventh-place in the 18-team tourney.

Martin said that they attracted a lot of attention during their appearance in the tourney.

“People down there were very interested in us, and we feel that we are ambassadors for the state of Montana,” he explained. “They wanted to know where Frenchtown was, and where Roundup was, and we had several offers to buy our jerseys, because of the Montana team name.”

One of the biggest impressions on the local guys at senior nationals was the quality of play.

“That is still a pretty darn good brand of ball down there,” Grimsrud said. “Everyone’s a little bit slower, you don’t see guys making the great diving stops on defense. But they’re still sure-handed, and if they get to a ball, they usually make the play.”

“The pitchers still throw hard and the hitting might even be relatively better. I believe that over-50 is an equalizer for the hitters,” Grimsrud said.

Pellegrini joked that the main difference in the seniors game is “we go through more ice,” while Grimsrud added that “we need a bigger roster,” both referring to sore muscles and more injuries due to advancing age.

The group missed last year’s national tourney because of lack of interest, but are now excited to improve on their 2006 showing.

“We’re stronger now than a couple years ago,” Martin said. “Our pitching and hitting is much better. I think we have a legitimate shot to get to the finals.”

At the recent open state fastpitch tournament in Billings, the old-timers placed third, competing against guys 25-30 years younger than themselves. Their only loss came at the hands of the state champions.

Senior Nationals takes place at Gateway Park in Fort Worth, Sept. 26-28. The total cost of travel, entry fees, uniforms and lodging for the entire team will be about $10,000. Montana Big Sky is hoping to receive donations nn from individuals, businesses and corporations nn to help defray the cost of representing the state at nationals.

“What would really be nice is if we could find a Montana business with corporate connections in Fort Worth that would be interested in being a sponsor,” Martin said.

To make a contribution to the Montana Big Sky softball team, call Jim Martin at 458-9328 or make donations to the “Montana Fastpitch Softball” account at Valley Bank.

Reporter Curt Synness: 449-2150 or curt52s@bresnan.net