When 65 veterans take the field Sunday, the cheers will be about more than the first pitch. The first-ever PebbleCreek Veterans Softball Games will bring together men and women who served across generations and branches of the U.S. Armed Forces for a morning of friendship, fun and remembrance.
The event will be held from 9:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at the Field of Dreams inside Goodyear’s PebbleCreek active adult community. Organized by retired U.S. Navy Commander Carl Bayes, the friendly competition features four teams of veteran players, all part of the PebbleCreek Softball League.
Bayes said the idea came from conversations among several veterans in the community who wanted to create something meaningful for their peers.
“Some of us veterans within PebbleCreek had talked about trying to put together an event that recognized all of the veterans within the softball community here,” Bayes said. “Serving the country is important, and we felt like that should be recognized.”
PebbleCreek, a 55-plus Robson Resort Community, has about 7,000 residents and a thriving softball scene with 275 active players in its league. Bayes estimates that between 70 and 100 of them are military veterans.
“I’ve found that I didn’t even know some folks were veterans until we started planning this,” Bayes said. “When you come across somebody else who did what you did, there’s just a special bond there. It’s different from just being friends or working at the same company. It’s hard to explain, but it’s real.”
Honoring service and building community
The Veterans Softball Games will feature two matchups between four teams wearing custom red, white and blue jerseys. Opening ceremonies begin at 9:45 a.m., followed by games at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Non-veteran league members have volunteered to serve as umpires, announcers and cooks, providing free food for all players. Bayes said that support has been one of the most rewarding parts of organizing the event.
“The outpouring of support from folks who aren’t veterans has been amazing,” he said. “People volunteered to umpire, cook, run the scoreboard, and serve food. A lot of people told me, ‘You just worry about playing; we’ll take care of the rest.’ It really shows what kind of community this is.”
Bayes, who retired from the Navy in 2018 after 22 years of service, joined the PebbleCreek community two years ago. He said the softball league quickly became his way of finding friends and belonging.
“I moved here for the golf,” Bayes said. “One day, I saw a bunch of folks with bats and bags and followed them to the field. I went home and told my wife, ‘This is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen.’ I found the field and fell in love with the game all over again.”
He laughed, adding, “We always say when you join the softball league here, you instantly have 250 new friends. That’s absolutely true.”
A father’s tribute
Among those taking part in Sunday’s games is retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Al Chandler, who served on active duty from 1971 to 1992. Chandler said softball has given him community, but also a way to remember his son, Capt. Jeremy Chandler, a U.S. Army Special Forces officer who was killed in Afghanistan in 2005.
Soon after, Chandler and his family started a memorial scholarship in his son’s name at the University of North Georgia, where Jeremy had graduated and received his commission. PebbleCreek softball players rallied behind the effort, turning it into one of the community’s proudest causes.
“We immediately started a memorial scholarship, and for the past 14 years, we’ve had a fundraising event through the PebbleCreek Senior Softball Association,” Chandler said. “We’ve averaged over $30,000 a year for several years. Last year, we did $50,000. We now have his scholarship to where it will be perpetual, and he will not be forgotten.”
Chandler said 24 Army officers have now received the scholarship, which supports cadets at the university.
“We already have donations coming in this year even without a formal fundraiser,” he said. “It’s heartwarming to know that there are so many people who care.”
Bayes said that kind of generosity and unity is what defines the PebbleCreek league.
“To be able to have a community where nobody really knew Al’s son, but everyone went all in to help raise money in his name — it speaks volumes about the people here,” Bayes said. “To raise enough to make a scholarship last forever, and to know his son’s name will never be forgotten, is amazing.”
More than a game
The PebbleCreek Softball League plays six days a week, with three divisions organized by skill level to keep the games competitive and safe. Players range in age from their 40s to their 80s, and many, like Bayes and Chandler, both play and umpire games.
“It’s incredible to see folks in their late 70s and early 80s out there playing,” Chandler said. “They just have a lot of fun, and they couldn’t do that if the games weren’t divided by skill level. It’s worked out really well.”
Chandler, who plays shortstop in the league’s Central Division, said the relationships built on the field are what keep him coming back.
“I just enjoy being there and participating,” he said. “We’ve been known to have a beer after a game with the guys who just beat us. Sure, you like to win, but that’s not everything. It’s about sportsmanship and camaraderie.”
The PebbleCreek community, which has more than 120 clubs ranging from pickleball to photography, offers no shortage of activities. But both Bayes and Chandler said softball stands apart because of how it brings people together.
“There are so many clubs here, but softball just makes it easy to connect,” Bayes said. “We play together, we help each other with home projects, we go on vacation together. It’s become like a family.”
Bayes said he hopes to make the Veterans Softball Games an annual tradition, ideally held each year on Veterans Day itself.
“This year, we had to schedule it on Sunday because of the league calendar,” Bayes said. “But next year, I’d like to do it on November 11 and make it a true Veterans Day event. The goal is for it to keep growing every year.”
The event is open to PebbleCreek residents and guests, and Bayes said anyone who comes will witness more than just a game.
“This is really about honoring veterans, recognizing service and celebrating community,” he said. “It’s about the joy of staying active and the bond we all share.”
Chandler said he hopes others take away the same message that has guided his years in the league.
“I am deeply gratified to be a member of this organization because there are so many people who care,” he said. “We couldn’t have done what we’ve done without PebbleCreek softball. As long as I can play, I’ll be out there.”
The PebbleCreek Veterans Softball Games begin at 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, with two games starting at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at the Robson Field of Dreams in Goodyear. The event is free, and all are welcome to attend.
For more information about PebbleCreek and the softball league, visit pebblecreekhoa.org.
James Goldmeer Reporter | Goodyear & Litchfield Park
Meet James James Goldmeer joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2024, starting their career as a reporter in Goodyear and Litchfield Park.
Community: James grew up in the West Valley, calling Avondale home and going to school in Glendale and Peoria. Returning to the community after university, James plans to get involved in everything arts and culture, and civil rights.
Education: Northern Arizona University a bachelor's degree in Journalism, a certificate in Professional Communications, with a minor in English.
Random Fact: James spent half a year as an intern for the Arizona House of Representatives communication team, working with legislators to inform the public through press releases and social media.
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