The motivations are many for Marysville’s men’s recreational softball teams but it is the social aspect that is a big part of it.

The five teams play each other every Monday at Marysville-Pilchuck High School’s softball fields.

One of those teams consists of 30-to 40-year-olds.

“La-Ha,” as they call themselves being sponsored by the La Hacienda restaurant in Marysville, boasts two championships, but perhaps more important then winning, is the players have fun and socialize.

“We’ve been doing this for seven or eight years,” team coach and pitcher Todd Alvers said. “It’s something to do on a Monday.”

Alvers’ day job is being a postman, and like his teammates he turns to recreational softball as a form of “escape.”

Other teammates, like Tom Poe, enjoy hanging out with friends when he’s not working as an air-conditioning technician.

“It’s a fun way to get a little exercise in the summer,” he said. “And also the camaraderie.”

Wes Daniels was introduced to the team six months ago by Alvers.

“Todd is also my mailman, and he asked me in the middle of winter to join,” Daniels said. “I got to pretty much know a lot of these guys.”

Daniels works installations and voltage and enjoys coming out to play softball in his leisure time instead of “sitting in front of a TV.”

Other teams had a not-so-linear development.

Paul Schafer, 22, coaches a team that used to be part of his church group.

“We have five original members and then rotated through a few more players over the years,” Schafer said.

Schafer’s team record is admittedly not as stellar as La-Ha’s but the participants still enjoy what they do as a past time.

“I love playing,” Schafer said. “Even when we lose we’re still having fun.”

Schafer’s teammate, Paul Fauquet, said: “I never played baseball, and you don’t have to be super good to play.”

Marysville also has a co-ed softball league consisting of seven teams that plays Sunday afternoons.