PCSA Open Men's team from 1990. This is the old brown and white uniform. PCSA founding president is in the front row. 3rd from right Brian Cooper.
IT'S fair to say softball doesn't have the biggest profile around Penrith.
But chat to association secretary Jo Buchanan and you'll uncover a club still producing stars.
Graham Doust founded the Penrith club in 1976 with 13 teams, which became a part of the Western Districts Association, initially based at St Marys, then Peter Van Hasselt Park in Willmot.
Players didn't wear helmets and bats were wooden, unlike the carbon fibre ones used today.
Penrith were crowned club champions in 1985/86 after claiming the most premiership wins.
In 1988, the Penrith club broke away and started its own association.
Based at Sherringham Reserve at Cranebrook, it consisted of 28 teams in the early days.
It moved its headquarters at Surveyors Creek in 1997.
Today, the association has 930 players whose ages ranges from four to adult in 82 teams from nine clubs as far away as Blue Mountains, Warragamba and St Clair.
"We have a 76-year-old (Gloria Newham) who still plays with her daughter," Mrs Buchanan said.
The axing of softball as a Olympic sport has been a factor in declining numbers.
"It doesn't give the kids anything to strive for," Mrs Buchanan said.
"We need help from the governing bodies to get into schools.
"Our T-ball boys' team has won the state title three years in a row.
"We have two girls in the under-19 Australia side, one of who is first reserve for the women's side.
"We also have three boys in the under-17 NSW side."
The association's grand final games will be played at Rooty Hill this weekend.