SARASOTA – An all-ages crowd jammed the Softball Showdown between the aging Amish All Stars and the Sarasota Seniors Wednesday morning, in what’s turning out to be an annual event at 17th Street Park. But winners and losers were apparently a secondary consideration as this convivial clash of cultures split their doubleheader.
“What’s the score? Does anybody know what the score is?” asked a straw-hatted man in suspenders parked on a motorized tricycle along the right-field line during the seven-inning-long opener.
“Nine to 4 or 5,” replied another. “I think.”
“What inning is it?”
For the record, the Ohio Amish topped the 55-and-older Sarasota Seniors 19-10 in Game One, but the Seniors rebounded to beat the Pennsylvania Amish 21-13 in the nightcap. But clearly, the scores weren’t as important as the weather and the vibe.