Ethel Lehmann grabs her bat and walks from the dugout to the on-deck circle. She raises her arms above her head, bat in hands, stretching as she leans from left to right. Then she steps up to the plate just like she has been doing since her softball career began more than eight decades ago.

The words “play ball” are always the start of something exciting for Lehmann, now 96 and the oldest player on the field.

“I just love the game,” Lehmann said. “Just playing ball makes me happy.”

A 2008 Women’s Nationals Seniors Softball Hall of Fame inductee, Lehmann is the co-founder of the Women’s Freedom Spirit Softball team. She’s been a member of the Three-Quarter Century Softball Club (also known as Kids & Kubs) since 2004.

Kids & Kubs is a softball club for adults over 74 with the mission of “healthy age-appropriate exercise through the game of softball.”

The club started in 1930 and is celebrating its 96th season.

Lehmann grew up in Long Island, New York, where she was named the MVP of her first softball team, The Long Island Clovers, just after graduating high school in 1947.

“It was my first year of playing organized softball and that was fast pitch,” Lehmann said.

She has enjoyed four decades as a senior softball player rounding bases through the 60s, 70s and 80s age groups and now deep into the 90s.

“I don’t feel like I’m 96. I feel like I’m 65,” Lehmann said. “Why do people keep asking me how I feel — I feel great.”

Lehmann believes the key to her longevity is staying active. She also bowls and power walks twice a week at John S. Taylor Park near her home in Largo. She also holds 20 track and field age group records.

“I just love the game of softball,” Lehmann said.

“… My husband got the invitation to come try out and I just tagged along with him. We both made the team.”

The two played together for years until George was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s; he died 10 years ago. Lehmann has five children, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

“My Aunt Lil lived to be 104 so I’m hoping I live to be 105, hit a home run and die at home plate. That’s what my dream is.”