Surrounded by his family and teammates, Edgar Cain laughed and talked last week with people he’s known and played with for decades. The 71-year-old was in the environment he knows best, the softball diamond, as he played in the Vicksburg Parks and Recreation Department’s church league at the City Park fields.

He’s been there, and elsewhere, for more than 50 years, piling up stories and friendships as well as victories.

“I remember a time in Port Gibson where we never lost a game for three years straight,” Cain said.

Cain, a Port Gibson native, started playing baseball in seventh grade and was a starter for Port Gibson High School. By the time he was a senior, he was the team’s only pitcher and sometimes threw two or three games a week. As recently as the mid-2000s, Cain played in a city-sponsored adult baseball league.

At age 71, Cain is still playing slow-pitch softball. He said it’s a good activity and gives him something to do on the weekends. His wife, Grape, has supported his career every step of the way in their 51 years of marriage.

“I’ve enjoyed it,” Cain said.

Baseball became a family game for Cain. Some of his relatives played and they’d get together for tournaments on the weekends.

When his son was born, Cain wanted to stay active long enough to play a game with him. Cain never dreamed he’d play long enough to play with his grandson.

Cain shared the field with his son, son-in-law and grandson for the first time about six years ago. He felt good seeing three generations of his family on the field together.

“It’s really special because not a lot of people get a chance to play with their father or grandfather and I get a chance to do so every game,” said Colby Rushing, Cain’s oldest grandson.

Rushing and Cain currently play together in the city’s slow-pitch church league. Cain is the team’s pitcher. When he was a child, Rushing watched his grandfather play baseball and was amazed.

“I remember being little and going to all these tournaments. The players he had on his team were unreal and so good,” Rushing said.

Cain can hit, too.

Rushing recalls a game last year where the team was down two runs and the bases were loaded. Cain was up to bat. The outfielders came in and played him shallow. Cain smacked the pitch and burned the outfielders to win the game.

“He’s a winner. He wants to win all the time. He loves the game so much and is so competitive,” Rushing said. “He likes to have fun with it.”

Frank Dawson has been playing softball with Cain off and on for 23 years. Dawson said Cain has helped him expand his knowledge of the game.

“He’s helped me grow in techniques of when to throw the ball, where to throw it at the time and don’t try to throw people out when you can keep the force on,” Dawson said.

Dawson played with Cain in Port Gibson and said the time spent playing league ball with him was the best. Dawson said they had the best players and the experience was fun.

“You take what he’s teaching you and help develop yourself and your skill set,” Dawson said. “He’s got a good mentorship and is good at teaching the younger guys the game.”

Dawson knows how physically tough Cain can be as he has watched him get hit in the ribs with the ball and continue playing.

Cain is in very good shape, and Dawson has seen him outperform younger guys. He still runs well and, despite staying active into his early 70s, has had no trouble with his knees.

Cain has seen softball and baseball transition in and out of the city of Vicksburg and the surrounding areas. He graduated from Port Gibson High School in 1961 and for the next few years played in a baseball league. He pitched, played shortstop and in the outfield.

Once the baseball league faded out, fast-pitch softball came around. He played that game for five years and has been involved with slow-pitch softball since then.

“At my age, I’m just privileged enough to even walk on the field,” Cain said. “I’m very fortunate.”