Marty Acosta was looking for a senior softball league after moving here in February from Lexington, Kentucky.
He made an impact in the fall season which ended last week in the 55-and-over Rockets league in Huntsville Senior Softball. In fact, he made multiple big impacts in a game Halloween night, Oct. 31 at field 1 in Brahan Spring Park.
Acosta had five hits with two home runs as Team Five beat Team Two 20-16.
“I just come out to have fun. That’s it,” Acosta, 58, said. “I haven’t played in four years.”
The Los Angeles native played in a men’s recreational league from 2006-16 in El Paso, Texas. He is a quality assurance engineer for Sumitomo Electrical Wiring Systems which is based in Bowling Green, Kentucky. As the electrical wire supplier’s lone representative in the Huntsville area, he resides in Madison.
Acosta searched the Internet and found Rockets league director Gary Wilkison before making his debut in the fall.
“I googled 55-plus leagues in Huntsville and it led me straight to Gary,” he said.
Playing left center and batting second in this game, Acosta went 5-for-5 with a three-run homer, a solo homer and seven runs batted in.
Yogi Guess and Phil Shriner added four hits apiece for Team Five (8-3). Tom Fickling, the shortstop, had two hits and shined on defense. Fickling made four putouts and four assists.
“Tom Fickling played awesome at shortstop. He kept us in the game all night,” Jackie Dollar, the winning pitcher and acting manager, said. “And Marty and Tom had clutch hits.”
Shawn Gordon and Wilkison had three hits apiece while Jerry Bevel added two hits. Dollar pitched all seven innings for the win.
Sam Sepulveda went 3-for-3 with a three-run homer, four RBIs and three runs for Team Two (7-4). Tim Lawter, player/manager, had three hits with a home run and four RBIs. Ron Baer went 4-for-4 with four RBIs. Chad McGuire, the starting pitcher, had three hits but took the loss. Bill Hartsell and Brian Jones added two hits apiece.
“Just didn’t start quick enough (on offense),” Lawter said. “We just didn’t get started soon enough. The good news is the Good Lord allowed us to play a kids’ game again and have some fun – and no injuries.”
