Men of summer; the Valley Cubs are a mainstay on the local softball diamonds

July 22, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

WASILLA - For members of the Valley Cubs, hitting the diamonds of the Bumpus Softball Complex is a Thursday night ritual.

And for a few players on the men's league softball squad, a night on the field is a summer ritual that has lasted years, and even decades.

Keith Armstrong, a longtime member of the Cubs, said a collection of the team has been together, as the Cubs, since 1992. And a core group of players have been teammates, on one squad or another, since as far back as 1975.

&#8220We've played so long, Pat's son wasn't even born yet,” Armstrong said, pointing toward teammate Pat Cunningham. &#8220Now (his son) is playing with us.

&#8220Some of the other guys have kids who play against us,” Armstrong said.

The Cubs feature longevity and tradition on the local diamonds and in the Mat-Su Softball Association that spans decades and even generations.

Cunningham's 23-year-old son Tyler is one of the more recent additions to the Cubs.

The squad has added a player or two here, or there. But for the most part, the team has stayed the same.

In January, the Cubs lost one of their most beloved teammates, Mike Kolivosky.

But after Kolivosky, the player most credit with founding the Cubs, died his teammates chose to honor his memory by creating special jerseys made with the Cubs logo and Kolivosky's No. 54. Mat-Su Softball Association also placed the same logo on the side of the building at Bumpus.

Kolivosky was a big part of that tradition the Cubs built as a team each summer. It's a tradition that seems to stay in tact, regardless of who comes or who goes.

&#8220We used to have 11 guys who played 65 games,” the Cubs' Bert Verrall said. &#8220Now we've got 16 and hope we can get 10 for a game. But guys have more responsibility now. Family takes precedent.”

Gary Skan, a member of the Cubs for the past four years, said the attitude of the Cubs is different from many of the teams that make up the Alaska softball circuits.

&#8220We're good, but we're there to have fun more than anything,” Skan said.

While they're still up for the action of the game, many of the Cubs contend it's the camaraderie that keeps them on the field.

&#8220We do this more for the social (aspect),” Armstrong said. &#8220Even though we still like to be competitive.”

Armstrong said one of the wife of a player best described the attitude the Cubs bring to the field.

&#8220You can't really tell if we won or lost when we're sitting in the parking lot having a beer after the game,” Armstrong said.

And when the Cubs do need a recruit to fill a roster spot, they now look for that attitude rather than talent.

&#8220It's not so much talent, it's guys you want to hang out with,” Armstrong said.

Teammates on the field, the Cubs have formed a family off. Armstrong said every July 4 the Cubs play golf, and host a barbecue for all the families. In December, the Cubs have a Christmas party.

A few of the Cubs are not quite sure how long they'll continue to lace up the cleats, pull the bats and glove out of the bag, and head down to Bumpus.

But even those who've roamed the diamond since the mid-70s are still coming back.

And if the Cubs do decide to hang up the gloves, it's not likely the core group of teammates will stray.

&#8220When we get done with this, we'll just have to go golfing on Thursday nights,” Cunningham said.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.