Sure it was fun for a handful of City of Manteca staffers to ditch their work clothes for shorts and hats Wednesday afternoon and take to the softball diamond to battle the Del Webb Silver Sluggers.

Even in 105-degree heat a day on the diamond trumps a day in the office. And the fact the city prevailed 12-6 wasn’t important. What was, though, was hanging out with some of the people city employees work for

In the eyes of Manteca City Manager Karen McLaughlin – who assumed the role of first base coach after tennis elbow forced her out of Wednesday’s matchup – getting a chance to unwind with residents and have fun at the same time affords an opportunity that seldom presents itself during the course of a normal workday.

Sometimes, she said, allowing people to get to know those who handle the day-to-day business at City Hall will improve the chances that they’ll call when they have a concern or something that they need addressed.

“I think with events like this and the Give Every Child a Chance Bowl-A-Thon, any time we can get out as a group and show people their local government working together as a team they’re more likely to pick a phone and call us,” McLaughlin said. “The more we do things like this the more that we’re going to get to know people in the community and the more they’re going to get to know us. It’s a departure from the normal meetings and it’s a lot of fun at the same time.”

Wednesday marked the third time that the two sides have squared off with one another in a co-ed game – Del Webb team comprised of regular softball players from the Woodbridge Association and the city’s a hodgepodge of staffers and elected officials ranging from Mayor Willie Weatherford to Public Works Director Mark Houghton to Police Chief Nick Obligacion.

While it was warm outside when the two teams took the field, Jerry Monares of the Del Webb squad said he enjoys exhibition matches like the ones they play against the city staffers and the firefighters from time-to-time – providing a chance to relive the glory days that are long since past.

“It’s fun – Willie (Weatherford) comes out here on a couple of different teams so we know him and it gives us the chance to have a little bit of camaraderie with the other players as well,” Monares said. “The residents love it, and it’s a chance to reminisce about what it was like when we were much younger and better and have fun doing it.”

Resident Frank Lopez said he was impressed with the team that the city fielded, and was glad that traditions like the one started continue because they’re good for the neighborhood and they’re something that people enjoy coming out to watch.

“It’s good for the neighborhood and it fosters a lot of goodwill,” Lopez said. “And they’ve got a good team. For being pencil pushers or what have you, they hit the ball pretty good.”