Birmingham Senior Softball | Russ Arthur Senior Softball Association 

2025 Season Recap 

 

The 2025 RASSA season was a memorable and enjoyable one. Our new Masters Division, designed for men age 70 and above and women age 45 and above, was a resounding success, drawing many new players and leading to our largest participation levels ever, as well as leading to safe and competitively balanced play throughout its inaugural season. We had a record turnout for our annual season end picnic in October as well, where regular season league champions were recognized, as well as our umpires, the leadership of Vestavia Hills Parks and Leisure Services and the field crew. In a vote of morning league players from both the Masters and Seniors Divisions, Royce O’Donnell was honored as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Bob Hunter Award, which is awarded annually to the player recognized by his/her peers as best exemplifying the ideals of sportsmanship which our league principles are founded upon. Prior to the picnic, we held our inaugural HR squared (Henry Rumble Home Run) Derby. The Masters Division winner was Ken Sransky, while Doug Miller took first place in the Seniors Division.

 

The Blue team, managed by Sid Hilton and assisted by Hootie Ingram, won the tightly contested Masters Division regular season championship. The Red team, managed by Richard Jones, started strong and led from start to finish to earn the Seniors Division regular season championship. In our Masters Division post season tournament, The Sky Blue team, led by Pate Manown and Steve Belcher, emerged as our World Series Champion in a thrilling win over the Red team, led by Wayne Sheets and Herb McLure.

 

2025 Morning League Final Regular Season Standings and Post Season Results

Rainout?  Call 205-978-0163
205-978-0163

See our RASSA Prayer List

 

2026 RASSA season starting soon!

Your RASSA Board of Directors is preparing for the 2026 season, commencing with Opening Day of our 22nd year as the premier senior softball league in central Alabama, planned for Tuesday, March 31st. I hope you are all as excited as our Board members and Managers are to begin play. In keeping with RASSA’s longstanding emphasis on ensuring fun, fellowship, balanced competition and increased participation levels, we plan to maintain the Masters Division (for men age 70 above and women age 45 and above), Seniors Division (for men age 55 and above) and Tuesday Night Division (for men age 50 and above). The primary objectives of the division structure are to maintain competitive balance and ensure player safety. A lot of work will be done in January and February to gauge player participation, complete the registration process, and establish 2026 schedules, rules of play and team rosters.

Many thanks to the RASSA Board Members and Managers who put a lot of time and effort into this process.

The 2026 Masters Division and Seniors Division season schedules will be available from the menu sometime in March.  As you will see when these schedules are completed, team batting and fielding practices will be scheduled for Tuesday, March 24th and Thursday, March 26th.  These practices will be followed the following week, weather permitting, by the start of regular season play as mentioned above.

Morning League Schedules (Available March 2026)

Tuesday and Thursday Morning Master’s (70+) Schedule

Tuesday and Thursday Morning Senior’s Division Schedule

 

RULES OF PLAY:

The 2026 Rules of Play are being prepared.  I encourage everyone, particularly our new players, to read the rules once they are available. With the introduction of the Masters and Seniors divisions last season, there are some differences in everything from field dimensions to playing rules. We will put an emphasis on further communicating the most notable changes at the team batting practices and the first couple of games so that all players will quickly gain familiarity with them.

ROSTERS:

Your Manager may have already contacted you, or else will be contacting you soon, so that you will know which team you are on. Our creation of divisions led to significant increase in players participation last season, and we are expecting similar or greater numbers again in 2026. We grew from 5 teams playing Tuesday and Thursday mornings during the 2024 season to 7 teams playing Tuesday and Thursday mornings (4 in the Masters Division and 3 in the Seniors Division) during the 2025 season, as well as 5 teams competing on Tuesday evening. As is usually the case, we will have some players recovering from injury or other medical conditions who will be unable to start the 2026 season, and we will likely have some late additions during registration as well. As in past years, efforts will be made to ensure competitive balance among the teams in each division. No adjustments/changes to rosters as a result of late changes will be made until after batting/fielding practices are completed, and the emphasis on maintaining competitive balance will remain.

REGISTRATION:

The regular season schedule is anticipated to begin in late March and end in either late September or by mid-October, depending on division.

In the Masters Division, we anticipate that annual fees will remain $60 (for those playing Tuesday only or Thursday only) and $120 (for those playing both Tuesday and Thursday). Any players registering for Tuesday only or Thursday only in the Masters Division may become eligible as a substitute when available on the other day by paying either a $20 fee for the entire season or $5 for each game they play as a substitute on the day they did not register for. 

In the Seniors Division, we anticipate that annual fees will be $60, with all games scheduled on Thursdays, though voluntary batting practices and spontaneous pick up games will be available on Tuesday mornings.

In the Tuesday Night Division, we anticipate that annual fees will remain at $60.

We will attempt to make up rained out games to the extent practical and given field availability.

The jerseys for new players, and where needed by returning players, will cost $12 each. Players own and keep these purchased jerseys. We encourage everyone to pay the annual fee and jersey cost (if applicable) by check made payable to RASSA at one of the batting/fielding practices on March 24th and March 26th. If you prefer to pay in cash, please bring the exact amount and we will have envelopes for you to put it in with your name on the outside, as well as a cash receipt. The deadline for payment of season fees will be Thursday, April 9th.   Please don’t mail any checks, cash or forms, as we are only prepared to handle payments at the field.

All players will be required to sign a RASSA Code of Conduct and RASSA and Vestavia Hills Department of Parks and Recreation conditional release form.

Birmingham Senior softball.

If you are a senior (men age 50 or older and women age 45 and over) and are interested in playing softball in the Birmingham Alabama area, this is the place for you.

This is who we are:

• Russ Arthur Senior Softball Association (RASSA) is a league for senior softball players in central Alabama, with games played at the Liberty Park Softball Complex.
• A Tuesday night division designed for men age 50 and older.
• A Thursday morning division designed for men age 55 and older.
• Tuesday and Thursday morning division designed for men age 70 and older and women age 45 and older.
• All leagues emphasize fun, safety and fellowship in a balanced competitive environment.

History

The chance for senior softball players to continue playing a game they love was the vision of the league’s founders in 2005 when they started what was originally known as the Central Alabama Softball Association. The group was led by Russ Arthur and included Hollis Beecham, Bill Gaulden, Gary Meadows, Rick Nichodemus and Ron Oliver. When Russ Arthur passed away in 2013, the league was renamed in his memory and for his leadership, dedication and hard work in establishing and maintaining the league. Russ Arthur served as the league’s commissioner from its inception through 2009. Ed Girard began serving as commissioner in 2010, followed by Henry Rumble and our current commissioner Tom Kilgore.

During the 2025 season, there were approximately 115 players participating in the morning league divisions and around 70 players in the Tuesday night division.

 

The RASSA leagues are organized around three principles:

• Play safely
• Enjoy Christian fellowship
• Continue having fun playing a game we love for as long as we can

RASSA is the premier senior softball league in central Alabama. It’s great to remember what it’s like to feel young, to play with old friends and to meet new ones. Each game ends with a player gathering in the infield where we share league news and announcements and lift prayers to give praise and thanks, and ask for healing, comfort and peace for those enduring hardships.

INTERESTED IN CHECKING US OUT?

Check the game schedules when available for the division you may be interested in and come watch a game. If you want to join us, find your old glove and contact: message us here: