Balls away – over net, in backfield, through hoop

Almost 30 people attended the Annapolis Senior Activity Center’s Game Day. Seniors were about equally divided between players and spectators.

Players showed their skills at beach ball volleyball, homerun derby, basketball and a hot potato contest with some playing all the games and others playing just a few.

First up was beach ball volleyball which elicited hoots, hollers and good natured ribbing from the two teams who egged on teammates and opponents alike. The two teams good naturedly bickered over serves and points. Two seniors, Gloria Hill and Dorothy Jennet Jones, cheered, chased the ball and occasionally fended off the ball when it was headed right toward them.

“Serve it!” “Here we go!” “Let’s get it together y’all!” “It came through the net!” “Get it!” “There you go!” “What’s the score?” “Come on y’all! We got to play ball!” and “You can do it!” were just some of the yells meant to be encouraging and to keep the ball in the air and one team ahead.

One team represented the senior center and the other, Senior Center Plus, a program for those who need just a little extra help to attend the center. The final score was 15-14 with the senior center ahead, but the game was mostly a nail-biter with the teams mostly tied and first one and then the other pulling ahead. Every point was highly contested, and amid laughter and fun, each serve was made to count.

Another interesting facet of the game was that the senior center team began with only two players, Sharon Williams and Cindy Purnell. As players gradually drifted in, the team gradually acquired the muscle and skill needed to bring it to victory.

Always more organized than the senior center team, Senior Center Plus started the game with almost a full complement of players, but this team, too, acquired a few players along the way, and at least one was probably a ringer.

Next up was basketball. Each senior got three tries to make baskets. Four seniors made two of the three baskets and were involved in a shoot out. Sharon Williams emerged victorious when she also made two of the three baskets in the shoot out. The other three finalists were Gary Matthews, Helen Sharps and Geraldine Collins.

In the next event, baseball, awards were given to the senior who batted the ball the furthest and the one who batted it the shortest. Awards went to Helen Sharps and Gloria Hill, respectively.

The hot potato contest was one of elimination. The one holding the hot potato when the music stopped was eliminated from the circle. Finally, only two seniors remained in the circle, Carriebelle Jones and Dorothy Jones. Carriebelle won, but both finalists received awards.

As the games went on, the music, “We are the Champions” and “We will Rock You,” played in the background. The music matched the competitiveness of the games, but was no match for the laughter and ribbing by the seniors.

Tired but happy, the seniors relaxed after the games with refreshments, including cookies, punch and Fritos.

For those who missed the party or those who would like to relive some of the fun, a clip from the party will be aired on Senior Centers in Action in April at noon and 7 p.m. daily on AACTV (Comcast 98/Verizon 38). It will also be uploaded to YouTube so people can watch online.