For four days and four nights, a group of 23 would-be adolescents, nearing or beyond the age of 50, battled each other in the Florida heat. All were members of the Willets 23 Softball Club. During batting practice before the first game on Thursday, two of the 21 softball players went down with injuries leaving players to complete an ambitious schedule of seven games in four days. By Friday, almost all of the players required frequent doses of Advil and a steady diet of pinch runners.

By Sunday, invisible runners were introduced to the game for the first time in its 15-year history. The group consisted of a core of diehards from a Sunday choose-up game which was founded in the early days of the Reagan administration by Rob Zimmerman. Larry Popkin and Jeff Gass. "Gas," formerly a fleet-footed centerfielder, recently relegated to catching due to an arthritic ankle, caught all five games and took care of all the travel arrangements. A teen-tour operator, Gas complained that despite bringing two staff members, this group was more difficult to organize than any teen group he had ever encountered.

Highlights of the games included outstanding performances by Port Washington natives Tony Abatte and Robert Soloff. For many of the players, reading this article will be the first they learn of the aforementioned start. When asked about the trip, Kenny "Can Do" Panzer voiced only one complaint: "Too many dentists and lawyers and nary a doctor." It is reported that the Willets Road 23 will be looking to recruit a physician for next year's trip which will include a scrimmage against the South Florida Girls High School team that happened to be playing on an adjacent field.

Game one of the series typified the action. With an east wind blowing directly in off the bay, it was a low-scoring game. The White Team held a tenuous 3-2 lead entering the bottom of the seventh and final inning. Ironman pitcher Dennis Arfa induced the leadoff batter to pop out to Rob Zimmerman. Dan Goodman lined a single to center and Arfa walked Drecksler. Big Mike Lieberman flied deep to left to advance the runners to second and third. Len Pugatch was due up with the tying and winning runs aboard. Strategy became important. A walk to Pugatch would set up a force at every base, but put up the dangerous Richie Sclesinger. A conversation ensued on the mound. When this reporter informed the battery that Pugatch had a severely pulled groin, suffered while dismounting a camel in Israel in December, the decision became clear. Arfa pitched to the injured player. The count was one ball, two strikes. The next pitch was intended as a waste pitch, but Arfa left it over the plate. Pugatch launched a rope to left center, but with the help of the wind, the ball landed safely in the glove of the fortunate outfielder.

The ensuing games were not quite as suspenseful, but enjoyable enough to assure a return trip next year. This article would not be complete without mentioning the MVP performance by shortstop Bruce Kalner. Kalner, whose importance cannot be overstated, was under the protection of the CIA for the duration of the trip. (His brother, Jay, a career employee of the agency, also played a respectable first base.)