Rootin’ for the home team

Senior residence celebrates Tiger baseball with T-ball game

By Heidi Roman
C & G Staff Writer

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Baseball fans of all ages can appreciate the excitement of the Detroit Tigers’ Opening Day, but one group of senior citizens celebrated with a little ball game of their own.

Residents at The Village of Peace Manor in Clinton Township faced off against staff of the Macomb County Senior Nutrition Program March 31 in an indoor T-ball game at the residence on 15 Mile Road, complete with all the makings of a Comerica Park experience.

The game was put on by the staff of the Senior Nutrition Program, better known as Meals on Wheels or Senior Dining Style. Besides bringing nutritional lunches to homebound seniors, the program also sponsors social events and parties at the sites it serves.

The subsidized apartment residents and Senior Nutrition Program staff usually celebrate the National Football League’s Super Bowl and other sporting events, so one man suggested they celebrate baseball, too.

“One of our residents is a really big Tigers fan,” said Barb Heikkila, a site supervisor in the program. “I found a plastic ball and plastic bat, and said we could play right here in the lobby (of Peace Manor).”

She thought it would be a great way to get the seniors out of their apartments and socializing, but didn’t know if they would agree with her. The seniors enrolled in the program are mostly in their 70s, and some are in their 90s.

“It’s baseball, it’s physical,” she said. “I didn’t think it was going to go over, but my seniors were pretty excited.”

The three-inning game began with the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and everyone stood for a second-inning stretch and a spirited rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” A cheering section was made up of residents who couldn’t play. They munched on popcorn and peanuts while they rooted for the home team, their fellow residents.

Usually 15 to 20 seniors sign up for a Senior Nutrition Program lunch, but 40 seniors attended the opening day celebration.

“I’m a big (Detroit) Tigers fan,” said senior June Dingman, a resident of Peace Manor. But during the game, she had to get used to rooting against the Tigers, the away team, since she was playing on the opposite side.

“I was booing the Tigers because we were the home team,” she said.

Dingman was a designated hitter in the game, and some residents who were unable to move around easily recruited a pinch runner. The fastest players got to step in for those in wheelchairs or with medical difficulties.

“I had to be fast,” said one of the designated runners, Peace Manor resident Alberta DeLeeuw. “I think I ran for everyone.”

In the end, the staff won 14-7.

You can reach Staff Writer Heidi Roman at hroman@candgnews.com or at (586) 218-5006.