He winds up and unleashes a knuckleball, inducing a mighty swing.

In an instant, one can hear the whiff of the bat and the snap of the catcher's mitt.

"Strike three ... batter is out," shouted the umpire.

The pitcher is 59-year-old Paul Kopp, the oldest player in the O'ahu Baseball League.

"Physically, I feel great, and sometimes my 20-year-old brain overtakes my 59-year-old body," Kopp said.

"I love being able to play along these young guys," he said, referring to teammates and opponents who are in their early 20s and 30s.

Kopp, on this day, pitched a complete game victory for the O'ahu Ravens.

Kopp, a Seattle native and retired U.S. Navy veteran, has been playing in the OBL since its start in the summer of 1989. Kopp said his reason for playing is simple.

"Obviously I love the game. It's better than football, it's better than basketball, and it's definitely better than soccer," he said.

When he's not playing for the Ravens, Kopp umpires high school games for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu and youth leagues.

For anyone who has played the game at any level, there is a chance to revive that love of baseball in the OBL.

Anyone can play

Steve Nakagawa juggles playing, managing and baby-sitting duties with the O'ahu Ravens of the O'ahu Baseball League. Oscar A. Hernandez photos

Evans handed much credit to David "Boy" Eldredge, Pal Eldredge and Vern Ramie as contributors to the foundation of the OBL.

"The league originally fielded five teams ... this year we had 23 teams," Evans said.

Evans' baseball experience goes back to playing junior varsity at Punahou School, and three years with the University of Hawai'i's club team. Although shoulder ailments ended his playing career, Evans still devotes his time not only to the league's operation, but also as an umpire in the OBL, high school games, and at Hawai'i's college summer league contests.

When not on the baseball diamond, Evans operates his silk screening business, 3E Silk Screen.

Three divisions

The OBL has three divisions, and players are placed by ability.

Evans

Marsh

Like many of the league's players, he did not have high school playing experience. Marsh said he was driven to the OBL by a childhood desire to hit a home run over a ballpark fence.

Marsh, an avid surfer and board shaper for his North Shore shop, Wave Blades, attained his dream, going deep at Hans L'Orange Park.

Paul Reaves, 35, a native of Queens, N.Y., now living in Kahala, has played six years in the OBL.

Before coming to Hawai'i with his family in 1985, Reaves' playing experience consisted of two seasons for his New York high school team.

His high school playing career was stalled at Kaimuki High, and he did not see baseball action until 14 years later when he discovered the OBL.

Reaves wanted to determine if his skills could match his desire to play.

After working out the "rust," Reaves, a security guard at a Waikiki hotel, became one of the stars of the Ravens. He pitches and has good control and excellent velocity.

Volunteer effort

Steve's playing experience dates back to Little League. The Mililani resident said he was never good enough to make his high school team and didn't play until he noticed an announcement in The Honolulu Advertiser.

In the inaugural season, he met Evans and since has taken a leadership role, along with having the chance to play again.

Nakagawa says the league has been successful, "because there are some people who really don't want to hang it up ... and don't want to go back to playing softball."

Aside from his playing and managing duties, Nakagawa also is the team's babysitter, watching the players' children during games, with a little help from the other players.