by by Gerald Wofford, MNN Feature writer
PHOENIX — Ella ‘Calamie’ Bailey has done it again. This veteran athlete firecracker who makes her home in Mesa, Arizona continues to prove the age-old adage, “You’re only as old as you feel.” Bailey, who is Muscogee (Creek) and grew up in Oklahoma, recently helped her softball team, the ‘Queen Bees,’ win the Senior Softball World Championship in Phoenix.
Bailey is 64, and plays with the Bees, which are made up of women softball players between the ages of 50 and 70. The teams finds it common to pick up medals or ‘hardware’ from other tournaments, including the World Senior Games held in St. George, Utah, which qualified the Bees to compete in Phoenix. The Bees also captured first in the Winter Classic in Manifae, Calif., the Palm Springs Sports Festival, Sun City Bosom Buddies Tournament, Arizona Senior Olympics and second place in the SPA Nationals in Tennessee.
Sports have always been one of Bailey’s passions. The Creek Lady began with the bat and glove at an early age. Bailey also picked up a basketball, found success on the court and has been a part of teams that have won national tournaments as well.
Manager of the ‘Queen Bees,’ Shirley Bowde sings the praises of Bailey. “She is a great asset to our team,” says Bowde. “Calamie made some awesome gamesaving catches in the left center field and batted a .470 average for the tourney (Senior Championships). Consequently, Calamie was chosen as one of the Tournament all-stars. All members of the team received world championships,” Bowde said.
(Story courtesy of the Muscogee Nation News department, original can be seen @ http://www.muscogeenation-nsn.gov/images/stories/pdf/MNN/mnnmay12.pdf)
