Credit: Jeff Bergeron

The Ye Old Master Batters pose for a photo, pointing their fingers in the air after winning the playoffs.

After long days at the office and managing their kids’ schedules, some Wayland dads spend their nights at Cochituate Field playing slow-pitch softball.

The league originated from Wayland Dads, a community-building group founded in 2015 by Wayland resident David Pearlman for dads, families and children in Wayland. As Wayland Dads started, so did the men’s softball league.

“When [Pearlman] had expressed interest in playing softball [and] creating a league, he decided to put out a notice to interested dads in town,” Wayland dad and player Nate Buffum said. “We all met at the Chateau, and people spoke about the league, and a bunch of the guys who are my teammates now said they would like to make this [league] happen.”

After Pearlman’s proposal of the league, some dads who were not yet on the team began to have interest in playing. Pearlman then decided his team would be a group of those types of people, dads who just wanted to play the game.

“The creation of the team basically started at the Chateau,” Wayland dad and player Jeff Bergeron said.

Because of Pearlman’s work with Wayland Dads, other dads wanted to do more for the community. When Pearlman was first forming the Wayland Men’s Softball League, Wayland residents Tyler Stowell and Scott Walters added an additional piece of Wayland Dads, hosting a new Saturday morning Loker Dads & Kids Drop-in.

According to Walters, the membership in Wayland Dads took off when Pearlman gave him the original list of 100 emails of dads playing in the first season. Now, their list consists of more than 1,000 emails.

“Dave instilled in me so much confidence and encouragement to grow and evolve Wayland Dads,” Walters said. “Without him, I would not have had the courage or motivation to keep Wayland Dads going for more than 10 years.”

The softball league has two seasons per year, both capped off by a playoff series. The first runs through late spring and summer, and the second takes place during fall. There are 14 teams that play games at the Cochituate Field on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings. Each team typically plays one or two games a week.

The teams are the Weekend Warriors, Inglorious Batters, Salty Dogs, Ye Ole Master Batters, Pearlman, Fly Balls, Monsters, Crushers, 06 Big Sticks, Sliders, BallBusters, Chicos Bail Bonds, Base Invaders and 7 Innings.

The casual competitive nature of the league makes it accessible to dads across Wayland, regardless of skill level or prior experience. Dads who have never played softball before or are out of practice are welcome to play. For some players, this was their first time ever donning a glove.

“This league created an opportunity for a bunch of dads in the community, who may not know each other very well, to get together and play softball,” Buffum said. “It allowed many of us to build lasting friendships with people in the town.”

According to Buffum, the league currently has over 200 members.

Community

The majority of the dads in the league have young kids who occasionally come to the games and help out as “bat boys,” increasing the excitement of the game for the younger generations. The CVS Pharmacy across the street also draws in some students at Wayland Middle School and Wayland High School, giving them a place to get candy and snacks while watching their dads play.

“Normally, when you have kids in the same grade, or if your kids spend a lot of time with certain kids, those parents usually spend time together, but this gives us another opportunity to see people and see other parents outside of that,” Buffum said. “When many of us would be about and about in town, whether it was at the grocery store or somewhere else, we would run into fellow softball players and feel very connected.”

Beyond the games, the league fosters a sense of community and team camaraderie. In particular, the Ye Old Master Batters typically go to The Dudley Chateau, a local restaurant in Wayland, after a game.

“Being part of this team has made me feel like more of a member in Wayland and more connected to the community,” Bergeron said. “I have gotten closer with so many dads and families in Wayland through this program over the years.”

Playing in honor

Pearlman was the commissioner of the Wayland Men’s Softball League. Pearlman passed away last year, but his legacy hasn’t passed with him. According to Wayland dad and player Aaron Frutman, the league is practically in Pearlman’s honor now.

“We pretty much have a great time because of [Pearlman],” Frutman said. “[Pearlman] made the league fun, and he encouraged us to put friends and family above the competition.”

Last year, the league held a ceremony for Pearlman, where on the opening night for the league’s spring season, Pearlman’s team and the Ye Old Master Batters honored him. The team that Pearlman played on was named after him and received new jerseys. Additionally, the league cup was named after him, now titled “The Dave Pearlman Cup.”

“Not only was Dave the man who started it all, he was also our captain and was incredibly passionate and supportive of all of us, regardless of what was going on,” Buffum said. “Whether it was something that was happening outside of softball or on the field, he would always be there for you and back you up.”

After the ceremony, players from all teams received a heart patch with the number 20, Pearlman’s number, and the date of his passing on it. These patches were made for players to place on their jerseys, but also to keep as a reminder of what the league is about.

“We have a banquet every year because of him,” Frutman said. “It was really just a nice honor and a touching tribute to a guy who is going to be immortalized on that field forever, and it’s well deserved.”

A team named “Lavelle” changed their name to “Pearlman” in honor of his contributions, not only to that specific team, but the league in general.

“[Pearlman] was a big figure in all of our lives, and it was hard for him to pass,” Buffum said “For us, we had to figure out something we could do to carry on his legacy.”