Age is truly just a number for Luling’s Alberta Dunn.
The 61-year-old wants to inspire others to stay active as they get older after taking on that challenge herself, crediting her husband Jesse for spurring her to find some different outlets for physical activity. She’s found it on the cabbage ball diamond, where she plays in the St. Charles Parish recreation department’s cabbage ball league.
Dunn began playing in cabbage ball fundraiser tournaments, including a recent tourney to benefit Norco infant Blakely “Baby Bee” Estevez who was battling cancer (and has since gone into remission). Enjoying those outings, Dunn joined the cabbage ball league for the Club 99ers, a team sponsored by Club 99 bar in Norco.
Her message? You can be a grandmother like her and still drive home runs.
“I’m just trying to get a little healthy,” said Dunn. “I want people to know that just because you’re over 50, you don’t have to stop being active. I’m the oldest person out here, and I’m having a great time.
“I see people walking out there at the Bridge Park, but it’s fun to do something else as far as exercising. We all cheer each other on and we have a lot of team spirit among us.”
Dunn plays on a team with her son Malcolm and his wife Tiffany.
“It’s a great family activity,” she said. “There’s another husband and wife that play on the team with us as well.”
This is the first season of the league that Dunn and her teammates have been able to participate in. The team entered the league last year, but Hurricane Ida foiled those plans.
“We got maybe one game into it,” Dunn said.
They’re a few games in this time around. Dunn said it will likely take a little while before the team starts to win consistently, as much of competition has been practicing and playing together for some time now.
That’s OK, she said, because the bottom line is having a good time.
“I keep things fun and light out there,” Dunn said. “I tell them, ‘Look at this old lady getting on base.’ I just try to do silly stuff to make them laugh.”
The other focus is, of course, working toward a healthier life. To that end, she can already feel the effects.
“I have a lot more energy,” Dunn said. “Now that I’ve been riding bikes and playing cabbage ball, I’m getting out more and I don’t have any aches and pains. I feel a lot better. It does so much for you physically and mentally.”
Some parents bring their children out to watch them play in the games.
“It sets a good example,” Dunn said. “It’s good for kids to see their parents being active.”
Dunn is more physically active these days, but she’s no stranger to staying busy. She’s a published writer who has penned three children’s books, including “Grandma’s Hands,” which was released in October of last year.
She hopes to see a few more grandmothers and grandfathers out on the diamond with her in the future.
“Diabetes, health problems, I know those things affect a lot of people in the African-American community,” Dunn added. “It’s something where you can help yourself by staying fit.”
She said she doesn’t plan to stop with biking and cabbage ball, either – tennis is next on her agenda.
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