The Englewood Men’s Senior Softball League started the 2026 Winter season with a bang in January with over fifty players added to teams via the entry draft. The league now has over 300 players across three levels of play.
“Our league has a great reputation throughout the Suncoast”, stated Scott Maresh, league commissioner. “We draw players from Nokomis down through Punta Gorda.” Most players are from Englewood and Port Charlotte, with increasing numbers from the Wellen Park area. The typical new player hasn’t played organized softball in a while but quickly gets back in the swing of things with some practice.
The league holds the primary entry draft during the first week of January to accommodate snowbirds’ arrival, and a supplemental secondary draft occurs after teams complete their first seven games. This year, Rafael Gonzalez was the first player taken in the Gold division draft by The End Zone Sports Bar. Burt Rood was the first player taken in the Silver division by Porter Contracting.
Games have been underway for a few weeks, despite the cold weather, with one third of the season in the books. The Gold division has seen several big bat additions to the rosters, with 29 home runs hit at the seven-game mark.
“We typically see one, maybe two big hitters in the draft, but this year there are five draftees that have joined the home run– ‘dingers’ club. I expect a few more may join,” per Rudy Davis, draft coordinator. Likewise, the Bronze division has hit 9 home runs in just 5 games. Marsh thinks it’s going to be one of the best years yet competition-wise.
The league is open to all men 60 years of age and older, and each team plays 21 or more games from early January through March. “We also have a Spring and Fall season, and occasionally a Summer season as well,” said Maresh. For more information about the league and how to register to join, visit the league’s website at www.englewoodseniorsoftball.weebly.com.
