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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Real love of the game

Don Shove participating in his 20th softball season in the Coeur d’Alene coed league

Carlena Shove already knows what the number of her husband’s softball uniform will be next year.

She just adds another digit with every birthday. The number on Donald’s uniform next year will be 73.

Carlena Shove was hoping this summer would be Donald’s last competitive season in the Coeur d’Alene Recreation Department’s adult coed league. But when She asked him if this was going to be his final summer, his reply was in the form of a question.

“What else would I do?”

The more Carlena thought about it, the more she knew her husband was right. He wants to play as long as his health will allow.

After all, Donald is sort of making up for lost time. He didn’t start playing the game competitively until he was 52. This marks his 20th summer.

For the Shoves, it’s been a family affair. All eight of their children – seven boys, one girl – have played at one time or another, and some of their 25 grandchildren have played with them.

Them? Yes, Carlena has played alongside her husband – although the frequency of her playing has dwindled in recent years. She did play in the final game last week, collecting a rare hit.

“I can’t see as well as I used to so I just play in emergencies – when we don’t have enough women,” Carlena said.

Donald was born to play softball. It’s just that he didn’t discover it until much later in life.

He was a natural when it came to pitching horseshoes, and when he took up pitching on the softball diamond he found the motion came natural – just like horseshoes.

He had played softball before. A game of workup usually broke out at family get-togethers.

It was Donnie, the Shoves’ third-oldest son, who asked his father to join a summer team.

Donnie remembers the first season like it was yesterday.

“He really picked it up right away,” Donnie said. “After the first game he could hardly wait for the second game. He had the best batting average (.870) on our men’s team that summer.”

Donald Shove is a North Idaho native. He was born at his grandfather’s sawmill in Twin Lakes, and Donald eventually gravitated to the industry, working 33 years as a saw filer at a local mill before retiring in 1996.

He met Carlena in early 1959 while on a date. He and his date stopped to have dinner at Marie’s Restaurant, which was located at the corner of Government Way and Appleway where a Wells Fargo bank sits today.

Carlena also was on a date. Donald was so taken by Carlena, that he called and asked her out the next night.

Carlena says Donald proposed on their first date.

“I was shocked,” Carlena said. “He knew me less than 24 hours and he proposed. I think he was half joking, but I wouldn’t let him forget it.”

As it turns out, he wasn’t joking. He formally proposed on Valentine’s Day and they were married six weeks later. Next year they will mark their 50th anniversary.

A big celebration is planned for next summer. Carlena has asked a friend to sing a song written by Roy Clark – “If I had to do it all over again” – to express her love for Donald.

“If I had to do it all over again I’d do it with you,” is one of the line’s that carries much meaning from the song for Carlena.

This year’s coed team has the fewest number of family members on it. Some of the children had conflicts and couldn’t commit to playing.

But one person on the team who isn’t family by blood is Rex Clark. He’s missed one season, and Donald and Carlena call him their eighth son.

“Pa (Donald) is like a father to me,” Clark said while waiting to bat in a recent game. “He’s always there for us, and he’s always positive. He has open arms for everybody.”

Clark recalled the 1992 season. It was particularly trying on Donald and Carlena.

In early May, Carlena broke seven bones in her pelvic region while running to first base. She and the first baseman collided.

Four days later, Donald suffered a mild heart attack. He took some time off before returning to play that year.

Carlena has some concerns about Donald pitching. After all, balls spring off of the high-tech aluminum bats faster today than when he started playing, and with age comes the loss of reflexes.

Coeur d’Alene-area umpire John Bell has watched Donald play the past 20 years. Bell marvels that Donald continues to play so late in life.

“He’s a swell guy,” Bell said. “They couldn’t be any better than him. His whole family is great.”

Donald’s sons appreciate the example their father set for them while growing up, and the example he continues to set in retirement.

“I respect everything he stands for,” Ken, the second-oldest son, said. “A lot of the way I think comes from him.

“He still has a competitive spirit. He gave it to all of us boys.”

Cliff, the oldest son, agrees.

“I’m their best looking son,” Cliff said.

“Only in the dark,” quipped Donnie.

Cliff appreciates being able to play with his dad.

“The fact that he’s 72 and still playing is amazing,” Cliff said. “There aren’t too many guys my age that can say they play softball with their dad.”

Donald doesn’t take for granted the fact that his health still allows him to be able to play.

“I’ve been very, very fortunate,” he said.

The Shoves will play in the shorter fall league before making their annual trek south to Arizona for the winter.

“Usually we play the night before we leave,” Donald said.

And they time their return to Coeur d’Alene so they’re back for the summer season.

“I won’t push him to quit as long as he doesn’t get hurt,” Carlena said. “He enjoys it so much. How can I say no?”

Reach reporter Greg Lee by e-mail at gregl@spokesman.com.