VALDOSTA — For 81-year-old Jake Wood, playing baseball and softball means everything.

The former major league player for the Detroit Tigers is a member of the International Senior Softball Association and participated in a three-day tournament this weekend.

“It’s a blessing to be here in fellowship and come full cycle from little league to playing senior softball,” Wood said. “If it wasn’t for the game of baseball, I wouldn’t be here, and I would encourage every senior to get out and get active.”

Nearly 50 softball teams made up of players ranging from 50 years old to 70 or more came to Valdosta from as far away as Michigan and Maryland to compete in the ISSA TitleTown USA Championship and the 2019 Women’s Spring National.

The tournaments began Friday morning and conclude Sunday.

“It’s remarkable how athletic seniors are today,” said R.B. Thomas Jr., ISSA executive director. “I like to say that seniors today, ones who stay active, are ageless.”

The athletes competing at Freedom Park smashed softballs across the fields, ran for first base and took a slide into home.

The ISSA held its first senior event in Virginia in 1995, but since then it spread across the country as the sport continues to grow in the senior community.

“We were content there for a number of years just to do some stuff in Virginia, and six years ago, we decided we needed to go national,” Thomas said. “It’s been a phenomenal success, really.”

The Valdosta-Lowndes Parks and Recreation Authority successfully earned a stop on the ISSA circuit in 2017 with some help from the Valdosta Tourism Authority.

The three-day event brought in more than $700,000 to the community last year and is expected to bring in as much or more this time around, parks and recreation officials said.

George Page, VLPRA executive director, said it has been a goal for the organization to bring the first senior tournament to Valdosta.

Although there’s no locally sponsored team in the field, Lowndes County is represented by a handful of players scattered among the rosters.

The VLPRA does have adult softball spring leagues open to players 17 and up. Registration is open now at vlpra.com.

Thomas Lynn is a government and education reporter for The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be reached at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256