By Colleen Kane
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Jim Spilman and Leo Osterday are years past their glory days on the ball field, and they know it. But that doesn't mean they can't still play with some of the best in the Metro.

One after the other on Sunday, the 51-year-old Osterday and 55-year-old Spilman pitched their teams to wins in the A division of the Cincinnati Metro Softball Championships at Rumpke Park.

Osterday's team, Sidelines, defeated Slumber Parties/Armor Windows 7-6.

Spilman's team, Marty's Pub, defeated Team 21 18-12.

Spilman and Osterday advance to face one another in Friday's A quarterfinals.

"I love playing with younger guys," Osterday said. "There's nothing like playing the best competition, and it's even more fun at my age, to know that I can compete with them."

In 33 consecutive Metros, Osterday has won 11 titles. The former outfielder was the Cincinnati Player of the Year in 1983, Player of the Decade in the 1980s, inducted into the Hudepohl Hall of Fame in 1992 and named to the All-Century team in 2000.

Spilman, a former first baseman, was a professional baseball player in the Montreal Expos farm system from 1969-1971, when his Gulf Coast League team won a pennant.

He has played in 25 Metros and once won an A Industrial title.

Since their younger days, Osterday and Spilman have modified their games to stay competitive.

Osterday switched from outfielder to pitcher.

"I wanted people to remember me as how good I was in the outfield. I didn't want people coming out and saying, 'He used to be good,' or 'Five years ago, he would have caught the ball,' " Osterday said. "I want them to say, 'He was good.' I wanted to play a position that didn't make me famous, and I can screw up all I want."

On Sunday, he pitched to former teammate Jack Collins, who played with Osterday on the VIP Limo team that won five consecutive Metro majors titles. Collins hit two home runs off Osterday. Osterday gave Collins a smile and a hug after his first homer.

"He said, 'If I had known you were going to do that, I would have walked you,' " Collins said.

Spilman also switched to pitcher from first baseman.

Last year, he gave up softball, too, but was convinced by his teammates to pitch again in this year's Metro.

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E-mail ckane@enquirer.com

Met at a glance

In the Majors: Robke Sales/Reds Boys beat last year's A champion, Taylor Made, 7-6 Sunday. Jimmy Ray and Ryan Sandlin each hit doubles, and Scott Young singled to rally Robke from a one-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh for the victory. Casey Stewart and John Slover each went 3-for-3 for Robke.

Up to bat today: Last year's B Champion, JSA Nasty Boys, takes on Cooper Sports at 8:30 p.m. at Rumpke in the only A division game of the day.

Majors today: No. 3 seed EMR Worth plays Tinytown Pizza at 9:30 p.m.

'B' there: Six games of the B Division round of 16 winners' bracket will also be played at Rumpke today.

The B games begin at 6:30 p.m. and run through the final game, scheduled for 10:30 p.m.