By Bettina Lanyi

KENNEBUNKPORT – On a Wednesday evening in June at Consolidated School’s Parson’s field, pitcher Penny Faszewski threw a ball that was hit deep into right field, where Kourtney Brask tracked it down for the catch that ended the third inning.  

It was a softball game much like any number of games played all over the country on this particular balmy evening.

Except Brask, 15, is in high school. And Penny, one of the best players on the team, is decades out from her days as a college field hockey player and swimmer, when she played softball casually. The hearty cheers for Brask’s feat come from players on both teams.

In all-ages slow-pitch softball, winning comes second to the fun of the game. 

Pamela Bennett was the scorekeeper on a recent Wednesday, filling in for Bert Austin, who usually keeps score. 

“We choose two random captains every week, and then do a schoolyard pick,” Bennett said. “We alternate boys and girls. It makes the game a little bit more fair and makes the innings more exciting. It’s really fun, it’s camaraderie. You couldn’t ask for a better community event.” 

Penny Faszewski said there were initially 15 to 20 players when the game started nearly ten years ago, but by this year, as many as 30 to 40 players have been regularly showing up to play.

“Every game, people just show up every week. I think word is just out,” Faszewski said. “You know, everyone’s so nice, and it’s so cool to see kids playing with grandparents. Is there anywhere else you can have that?”

Those who want to play can join in for a game or a season. Players aged 16 and up can register, but players as young as middle school-aged can also join, if their parents stay for the game or to play as well. In terms of maximum age, there is no limit.

“There could be a kid, a parent and a grandparent all out on the field at the same time,” Bert Austin said.  

Austin has been the heart of the community game since soon after it first started. She brings cookies and treats for the teams, serves as scorekeeper, and keeps a box of gloves and other equipment, thrifted from area consignment stores, on hand in case players don’t have their own to use.

“Notice no one is on their phones?” Austin said. “It’s like everybody comes in with a smile and leaves with a smile.”

Registration through Kennebunkport Parks and Recreation department is requested, though participation is free to all, and players can jump in and out of games at will. Kennebunkport Selectman Allen Daggett is the sponsor of the game and the owner of Cape Pier Chowder House; the players’ bright blue game jerseys sport the Chowder House name and logo.

Daggett was instrumental in moving the softball diamond down toward a shadier spot on Parson’s field several years into the game. “The sun was in everybody’s eyes in the afternoon, and you couldn’t see the ball,” Daggett said. When Kennebunkport’s select board initially balked at the expense, Daggett covered the cost.

“This is a good pastime,” Daggett said. “A lot of people come down and watch.”

Sally Halley, tucked comfortably into a blanket in her foldout chair next to the softball diamond, has been coming to watch every game since her grandson, Cole Halley, started playing a number of years ago.

“With my grandson here, I wasn’t gonna miss the game; I wouldn’t miss a game for anything. He’s 27 now. I used to do scorekeeping until I got too old. And then my grandson stopped, but I could still come because we know a lot of the people. Everybody knows me – I was a waitress at the Wayfarer for 23 years,” Halley said. “It’s fun and it gets you out of the house, and you know so many people from all different walks and different ages. It’s wonderful.”

Kourtney Brask, who usually plays softball on her high school team, said she likes playing in the community game. “It’s fun. Because there’s not a lot of pressure. There’s some pressure, but it’s not, like, if you mess up you’re bad, you know?” 

Her sisters, Jessica, 18, and Rachel, 23, who joined in for a couple of games, said they enjoyed playing an all-ages game.

The sisters, who work at the Parks and Recreation department, located adjacent to Parson’s Field, said they’ve even played softball with their coworkers and boss. 

Stephanie Simpson, director of Parks and Recreation, said lots of staffers jump in to play after work on Wednesday evenings.

“Even after a long day of work, they head out there to play, just because it’s fun and you get to meet a lot of people,” Simpson said.

 The Brask sisters concur; in fact, they’d like to rope in another family member.

“We’re trying to get our mom to come,” Jessica said. “She used to play, too.”