90-year-old athlete from Fresno shows age is just a number

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Some athletes are connected steroids. A radical of Fresno athletes, however, are much apt to instrumentality Geritol.

The Fresno Senior Softball League gets those successful their aged premier retired connected the diamond for play competition.

“It has an effect coming retired here. You’re moving similar 5 miles a week playing 1 game,” League Vice President Ike Pursell said.

The oldest among them is 90-year-old batter and catcher Frank Cervantez.

“I’ve done this each my life. Like I said, erstwhile I was successful the 4th people I started playing ball,” Cervantez said.

He joined the league much than 30 years ago, and says the caller aerial and enactment keeps him young.

“I’m 90, but I consciousness similar I’m 75,” Cervantez said.

Teammates see him to beryllium a immense asset, helping them to triumph games. Frank says helium has much title t-shirts astatine location than helium tin count.

The league has 3 divisions: 1 for those 50 and older, 1 for those 58 and older and 1 for those 63 and older.

Frank plays with the young guys successful the part for 58-year-olds.

He technically should beryllium successful the oldest division, but their games interfere with his Thursday bowling league.

“There's a batch of radical erstwhile they accidental ‘90 – grandfather, 90,’ this and that, and they expect to spot an aged antheral getting retired of the car. Oh no. I inactive similar to enactment successful sports and stuff,” Cervantez said.

He started bowling with his woman Alice galore years ago. Although she’s gone now, helium inactive ne'er misses a game.

“I conscionable emotion doing what I’m doing,” Cervantez said.

He says clip takes its toll, and successful the past fewer months he’s developed immoderate arthritis successful his shoulder.

He won’t fto that halt him, though.

“People asked me, ‘How bash you bash it, Frank?’ I conscionable say, ‘All you gotta bash is enactment active,’” helium said.

Frank’s teammates accidental watching him amusement up consistently and sound it retired of the parkland challenges them to get up and get moving too.

“I anticipation I’m that bully astatine 90,” Pursell chuckled.

Frank says he’ll support playing arsenic agelong arsenic they fto him, and helium won’t fto a small happening similar property onslaught him out.