Every spring and fall, a diverse group of men toss aside the rigors of adulthood and entrench themselves in a welcomed distraction. The 14 members of the Hurricane baseball team trade in their BlackBerries and suits for baseball bats and pinstripe jerseys.
The Hurricanes are part of the Legends Baseball League, founded in 2006. The competitive league was created specifically for the casual player. It is made up of 12 teams, and games are played on Sundays at various parks and high schools throughout the area, including South County Secondary, which served as a host site for a spring championship game.
For Greg Budnik, who pitches and plays first base for the Hurricanes, the league is just right. “I assumed that all of the adult [baseball] leagues were high-powered stuff, which is why I played softball for almost 19 years,” said Budnik, whose Hurricane team won the 2011 spring Legends League championship. “It’s fun to be able to go out and play without all the complexity of overly competitive conditions.”
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Members of the league come from a variety of backgrounds, and most live in the Lorton, Va., area. Players on the Hurricanes are information technology professionals, college students, accountants, engineers and attorneys.
“It’s definitely a community type of thing. It’s a good way to meet people and to break out of your frame of reference of the working world during the week,” said Budnik, who owns a Northern Virginia-based engineering company.
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The league also gives Budnik an opportunity to bond with his 20-year-old son, Alex, who pitches for the Hurricanes. The two enjoyed being able to play together in last month’s championship game, which fell on Father’s Day.
John Dean pitches and plays infield for the Hurricanes. He learned about the league while searching for one on the internet, and recently finished his third season with the team.
“It’s a great team with a great group of guys,” said Dean, who played varsity baseball for two years at West Potomac High School.
Dean, who owns a Mt. Vernon dog walking business, appreciates the simplicity the team and league offer. He says previous leagues he played in were competitive to the point where it stopped being fun.
“I like the league because of how laid back and relaxed it is. I enjoy playing with less stress and in the less stressful environment,” said Dean.
While players such as Budnik and Dean enjoy the league’s simplicity, this past season was one of redemption for centerfielder Eric Ottenheimer. Ottenheimer suffered a gruesome hand injury late last year when sliding head first into second base. The injury required surgery and left Ottenheimer questioning whether he would be able to return to the sport he loves.
“There was a time that I thought I would never be able to hold a bat again,” said Ottenheimer, who returned this spring and was named league MVP. “For me, being named MVP is really special and probably a little more emotional than you would think for a regular adult baseball league,” said Ottenheimer.
In September, the 14 men who fill the Hurricanes’ roster will dust off their cleats and attempt to defend their title during the Legends League fall season.
