About Us

POPS (Past Our Prime Softball) was formed as a men’s adult softball league in 1998 by Dr. Keith Pastuch, who was a scholarship college baseball player and played at high levels of softball all over the South Shore of LI. As a doctor specializing in athletic injuries, he found himself treating many men in their 40’s – 70’s who were getting hurt playing in various softball leagues. He noted that most of the injuries were caused by older players trying to keep up with younger players. The idea was then born, and the league started with a bunch of friends who recently turned 40 years old wanting to continue to play competitive softball - but not against 20-something year olds or against players the same age as their kids. What started as 6 teams playing on weeknights after work rapidly attracted more and more players and soon enough, POPS 40 & Over took off. After running smoothly for a number of years, POPS established a 50 & Over league, and then a 60 & Over league, and most recently a 70 & Over league. All 4 leagues continue to grow and POPS now has 38 teams with over 600 players.

POPS is widely recognized as one of the best run, premier men's softball leagues on Long Island. 

We play games on weeknights, under the lights, on some of the finest fields in Nassau County including Baldwin Park Turf, Wantagh Park Turf, Eisenhower Park Turf and clay, North Woodmere Park and Shell Creek Park, as well as on fields of some high schools including JFK Bellmore HS and our "home field" at Oceanside HS, where turf is being put in this year. We use Clincher Gold softballs, high arc pitching of 6-10 feet, and special rules designed to prevent injuries (see POPS Rules on our website). Games are either 7 or 9 innings long (depending on the age league). In POPS everyone hits (continuous batting) and everyone plays the field if they want to. POPS’ one application fee covers everything from the first game until the end of the playoffs, including uniform shirts, umpires, balls and field permits – players just show up and have a good time. 

POPS Spring/Summer season has 2- 3 divisions in each league. Only one league plays on each weeknight, so as not to conflict with each other - this allows many players to play in two different POPS leagues, for example the 40+ & 50+. The season begins in the first week of May, with Championships held in mid-late August. USA umpires are provided, and when possible, a POPS Director is at games to resolve any misunderstandings of rules or other issues. 

Every team makes the playoffs, which utilize a double elimination format. Standings are kept throughout the season to determine fair divisions in each league for the playoffs.

Once the Spring/Summer league is complete, the POPS Fall Ball season starts. It’s a totally different league, with new teams and players joining together to form teams from within the POPS regular season.  Fall Ball plays from September through October.

All divisions in both the Summer and Fall seasons have their own Champion, and players on the championship teams receive awards (such as jackets or sweatshirts). 

POPS Softball is a league that allocates any additional monies raised or left over to help others. We do so with helping "families in need" come the year-end holidays. POPS has been able to do some amazing things with the money raised to help local families who’ve fallen upon hard times.   

In continuing to ensure POPS is a part of the communities we play ball in, we distribute "scholarships" to kids graduating HS and going to college, to both children of our players, and to the high schools and communities whose fields we play on.  

POPS’ philosophy is simple – “To provide adult men a safe, friendly, and fun environment to play competitive softball, for all levels of play.”. POPS is about more than just playing softball – it’s also about camaraderie. It has become a "brotherhood". Countless friendships have been made among players from all teams. Whining and trash talking are discouraged, and inappropriate behavior is not tolerated – it has no place in POPS. Our Board of Directors and Field Supervisors under the leadership of Commissioner Keith Pastuch, ensures that the league stays on course.