Herstory
FUN AND COmpetition: 1991-2012
The Colorado Peaches were founded in 1991 by Greeley, CO physical educator Chloe Childers. They quickly became known as the “team with the mostest fun and competition.”
In 1991, they played as a 55+ team in the National Senior Games in Syracuse, NY with Chloe as coach and LaVerne Dressor as team manager. The team continued to recruit local players, practice weekly, and improve their game. They also continued to play at Nationals, winning a silver in the 1995 San Antonio 60+ division and a silver in the 1997 Tucson 60+ division.
In 1999, the 65+ team beat their arch-rival The Virginia Golden Girls and took the gold at Nationals in Orlando.
The Peaches continued to play at Nationals through 2009. In addition, the team began playing at The Huntsman World Senior Games in 2007. Prior to this, the first Peaches to go to Huntsman were outfielder Chloe Childers, catcher Doris Brewster, and infielder Mary Gollehon, who played with the Rancherettes.
In both 2007 and 2008, the 70+ team won bronze at Huntsman. In 2010, the Peaches played as the first 74+ women’s team in Huntsman history. They took gold as the only 74+ team (and also won a game against their younger competition).
Several key players retired at the end of the 2012 season, including Chloe Childers, Laverne Dressor, Doris Brewster, Pat Hutson, and Nancy Andrews.
In 2013, six Peaches were inducted into the Greeley Senior Softball Hall of Fame: Doris Brewster, Chloe Childers, LaVerne Dressor, Nelli Jo Girvan, Marge Rady, and Bernice Thrall.
CONTINUAL commitment: 2013-2021
Determined to continue as a team and motivated to return to Huntsman, several Peaches including Maggie McCloskey and Raquel Bishop relocated practices to Denver, CO and recruited local players. The team competed in the 2013 Huntsman World Senior Games without a coach. The Huntsman tournament honored the Peaches contributions and drive with the presentation of a softball.
In 2014, retired Peaches Chloe Childers and LaVerne Dressor returned to Huntsman as alums in support and celebration of the team.
In 2015, Colorado Peaches ages 74-84 were a 13-member team. The team was joined by Gail Klock, a well-established Colorado School of Mines coach who worked there from 1980-1994. Gail helped usher the Peaches into a new era of play, and coached the 70+ team to a bronze at Huntsman.
In 2017, the Peaches received the Superior Achievement in Masters Softball award (for 2016) from Sportswomen of Colorado, and grew to a 25-member team ages 52-86.
In 2019, the Peaches 70+ team won silver at Nationals in Albuquerque, NM. Later the same year, the 74+ team won gold at Huntsman. The Peaches also sent intergenerational teams to play at the New Mexico Senior Olympics and sent a 50+ team to Huntsman.
During the pandemic, the Peaches practiced wearing masks and originated a tournament-style Peach Bowl in lieu of organized senior game tournaments which were canceled due to COVID.
In 2020, Gail received the Masters Coach of the Year award (for 2019) from Sportswomen of Colorado. In March of 2021, she passed away after an extended battle with cancer.
In 2021, the Peaches sent four teams to Huntsman: 50+, 60+, 65+, and 70+.
Ongoing Legacy: 2022-CURRENT
Addenbrooke Park in Lakewood (our home park) was renovated in 2022, so the team held practices at various fields across Denver. We began a tradition of monthly Peach Bowls, dedicating a late-season Bowl as the first Gail Klock Memorial Peach Bowl.
In 2022, the Peaches played as the first 79+ women’s team in Hunstman history. They took gold as the only 79+ team and, as the 2010 Huntsman 74+ team had done, won a game against their younger competition.
In 2023, through the generosity of our sponsors, the Peaches were able to expand the Gail Klock Memorial Peach bowl into an end-of-summer celebration. In 2023, we celebrated our early members Chloe Childers, Raquel Bishop, and Nancy Andrews in person on the field. Recently retired player Louise “Weezer” Lujan was also in attendance.
Later in the year, Maggie McCloskey of the Colorado Peaches along with Carmen Campbell, an out-of-state Peaches player and Maryland softball administrator, were inducted into the Huntsman Hall of Fame.
In 2024, the Peaches established our Volunteer Committee. The team continued to play at regional tournaments, including the New Mexico Senior Olympics and revived Wyoming Senior Olympics, as well as the Huntsman World Senior Games.
In 2025, the Peaches will be headed back to the National Senior Games, this time in Des Moines, IA with our 75+ team. We are also excited to play the Colorado Sugar Beats in the first NOCO Chloe Childers Senior Women’s Softball Classic at the University of Northern Colorado.
As we continue to look ahead for opportunities to play, the Peaches maintain our commitment to fun, competition, and age empowerment.
