Bean Bag Baseball tournament at Malvern Senior Center

The Central Arkansas Development Council’s (CADC) Malvern Senior Activity Center on West Moline Street is playing host this week to a two-day regional Bean Bag Baseball tournament, being played out among teams from several central Arkansas senior center groups.

The rules of the game are simple and similar to traditional baseball, minus the running. Teams are comprised of anywhere from five to 12 people, who each take turns throwing small bean bags toward an upright board stand that has holes bored into it which represent bases or particular plays.

If a player throws a bean bag and it doesn’t go through any of the holes on the board, that throw is considered “OUT.” If it passes through one of the holes on the board, he or she must do whatever corresponding action is written underneath the hole. For instance, if the player’s bean bag goes through the “first base” hole, that player drops the other bean bags in hand and takes a seat in the “first base” chair. That player cannot move on in the game until the next player on that team makes a successful play or scores three OUTS.

Director Suzanne Graves said the Malvern seniors have participated in the regional bean bag tournament in the past, but this is their first time hosting it at the Malvern facility. The Malvern team members were excited to welcome competitors from all over the state to a little friendly competition, showing their team spirit in their brightly-colored turquoise t-shirts.

Teams from senior centers in Arkadelphia, Morrilton, Glenwood, Mt. Ida, Hot Springs, Danville and Russellville were in the thick of it Thursday morning, and other teams were arriving throughout the early morning hours. The tournament is one of many creative and entertaining ways CADC looks to serve the health and well-being of senior Arkansans, although senior groups outside the CADC umbrella are also welcome to attend.

“Senior Activity Centers give persons 60 and older the chance to enjoy meals and social activities with other senior citizens who have a common interest,” as stated on the CADC website.

“Activities offered at the centers include exercise, transportation, recreational event, book clubs, computer training, motivational speakers, nutrition, guided tours, and more,” the website states. “Our centers offer opportunities for persons to participate in health fairs, legislative events, and explore new areas of Arkansas.”

The Malvern facility was filled with a happy, boisterous crowd that was obviously having a great time during the Thursday morning round of the tournament.

“They are having a lot of fun, and they’re heavy on the competition,” Graves said. The first-, second- and thirdplace winning teams from this week’s event will win trophies and go on to compete in a state-level tournament in Jacksonville on May 11.

For more information about the Malvern Senior Activity Center, stop by for a visit at 1800 W. Moline St. in Malvern, check our the “Malvern Senior Center Social Calendar” on Facebook, or call 501-332-5374.