NSGA Athlete of the Month
Bonnie Strang,75, Millsboro Delaware
Softball has the second-highest athlete participation of all sports in the National Senior Games. Since Bonnie Strang first entered Delaware Senior Olympics in 2007, she has become known as a talented and fierce competitor among Senior Games softball players.
While Bonnie also enjoys playing badminton and pickleball in recent years, she got hooked on “America’s Pastime” as a kid and developed a burning desire to play. “When I was growing up there was no baseball for girls at school,” she recalls. “Girls weren’t allowed to play with the boys in little league, so I would play sandlot ball with them and watch their games through the fence.
“When I was in 7th grade, there was a call for fast pitch softball players in the next town over,” she continues. “I found out they were all over 18, out of school or working. But they let me play with them and even came to give me rides to practice. My coach, Nancy Grafton, taught me everything about the game. I later played on my Westchester college varsity team and it was like a step down.”
Bonnie kept playing recreational and tournament softball while keeping up with a 41-year career as a high school band director. Primarily a catcher, and more recently taking second base and now shortstop duties, she has been recognized as All American three times, All World four times and All Tournament several times by softball organizations and tournaments. She has played with four different teams in her past decade with National Senior Games, winning gold three times. She also serves on the board of directors of Delaware Senior Olympics and is their Sport Chair for softball and badminton.
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