Old school: At 61, Mat-Su Valley man is the life of the softball league

WASILLA - John Barton is small in stature, but by no means frail. He has a full white beard, and his hair to match is tucked beneath a Seattle Mariners baseball cap. His look is strikingly close to the character Blue in the comedy &#8220Old School.”

He has a jovial laugh, and an inviting

personality.

And at 61, he can still round the bases as fast as anyone in the Mat-Su Softball Association's Co-ed E League. In fact, Barton, a veteran of the Newman's Hilltop team, is probably one of the fastest players in the league.

&#8220Ah, I don't know about that,” a humble Barton said before Newman's Hilltop was set to take the field on Monday. &#8220I just think I try to out-do the younger ones.”

Considering his look, his personality and his speed, Barton is easily one of the most recognizable players, participating in a league where character still holds position over competition, and personality stands as tall as talent.

Barton is an elder statesman in a league that includes a wide ranges of ages.

&#8220And he can relate to them all,” said Gord Boeve, the Newman's Hilltop team captain and Barton's teammate for the last six years.

&#8220He's a lot of fun to have around,” Boeve said. &#8220Our team kind of ranges [in age] and he interacts with them all.”

Whether it be teammates, opponents or Boeve's two children, Barton wants to laugh and joke with them all.

&#8220My two kids come to the game with me every week,” Boeve said. &#8220And every week he shows up with candy for them. The guy's great to have around.”

Boeve said Barton is the first to tell someone they're doing a great job, and the first to laugh at his own mistakes.

The camaraderie of his team and the association has kept Barton coming out to softball diamond every Monday night for the last several years, and will probably be the reason Barton hits the field for several more.

&#8220To be out, and having a good time with everybody, laughing and joking,” Barton said.

Barton is pitching for Newman's Hilltop now, but he's played about every position on the field.

&#8220He tries to do whatever I ask of him,” Boeve said.

Barton said he has no preference for a position in the field, and he does like to hit. And he likes to run.

&#8220I like to challenge it out there, stretch a single into a double,” Barton said. &#8220I wish I could hit it further, but if I get it through the infield, I'll get a double out of it.”

Barton's speed probably comes from his activity. He prefers to stay active. Much more active than the average 61-year-old, and probably more active than the average 31-year-old.

&#8220You're only as old as you feel,” he said.

When he's not on the softball diamond or working at Spenard Builders Supply, he's probably outside tending to his dogs. Softball is his summer sport, and he mushes dogs in the winter.

&#8220My ambition is to run the Iditarod if I ever get rich,” he said with a laugh. &#8220Right now I just do that for recreation.”

And it's something to keep him busy.

&#8220I've got to have something. I'm busy all the time,” Barton said. &#8220When I get home from work, I take care of my dogs, I eat dinner then I'm back outside doing something. I'll go to work and people will ask me, - ‘did you see this on T.V.?'

&#8220I watch two programs - the news and the news.”

Barton is contemplated retiring.

&#8220Man, I've worked all my life, I want to go out and enjoy myself,” he said.

But that does not mean Barton will slow down.

&#8220I cannot sit still. I've got to be up and doing something.”

Visiting Spokane, Wash., about a year ago, Barton said he picked up a newspaper and read a story about a men's baseball senior league in Arizona that travels all over, playing games.

&#8220I thought, jeez that'd be cool. Retire to Arizona and play in that senior league,” Barton said.

Barton said he has been playing baseball or softball off and on since he was in high school.

&#8220It's always been one of my favorite games,” he said.

Before joining the Newman's Hilltop team, he played in a competitive league in Anchorage. When he was younger he played in a fastpitch league in Idaho.

&#8220It was a beer league, and we played teams in a 30-mile radius,” Barton said. &#8220It was more like baseball. You can steal, lead off.”

After high school Barton went to Lewis and Clark State in Lewiston, Idaho, for two years and said he probably could have had the chance to play college baseball. His roommate tried to convince him to play, but he wanted the social life.

&#8220I didn't want to. I wanted to drink beer and chase women,” Barton said as he laughed. &#8220And I did. I drank beer and chased women.”

Back then, Barton said he didn't feel the need to play.

He had fun.

And now at 61, he's back on the diamond.

He is playing.

And he's still having fun.

&#8220It keeps me young,” Barton said.

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