LaVerne Cortesi plays for the Del Webb Woodbridge Codgers co-ed softball team.

The age 55 and older active adult community has several competitive teams including the Diamond Gals and Silver Sluggers.

She had the unique opportunity to play softball against her daughter, Dawn Cortesi, and granddaughter Riquel Riveira.

Both work for the City of Manteca. Dawn Cortesi is the interim Director of Human Resources and Stanislaus State product Riveira is an intern.

Not too long ago, Mary Long, who runs the women’s league at Del Webb, was approached by LaVerne Cortesi about playing an exhibition game against the City.

“She gave me Dawn’s (phone) number to set things up,” Long said.

The three generations of Cortesi took to the playing field for a spirited game on Monday. Grandmother Cortesi – she initially had second thoughts about playing – was joined by her Codger teammates consisting of Mary and Ron Long, Dennis Donaldson, Candace McLaughlin, Greg Meagher, Ruby Cawley, Ron Schmidt, Rose Buchanan, John Cawley, Tim Sells, Frances Ramos, Roger Gibson, and Dan and Lauri Stillmaker.

Representing the City of Manteca were Councilman Dave Breitenbucher, Public Works Director Carl Brown, Recreation Supervisor Eric Culpepper, Senior Management Analyst Johanna Ferriera, Police Officer Matthew Gardette, Finance Director Bret Harmon, Director of Engineering Kevin Jorgensen, interim City Manager Toni Lundgren, Fire Chief Dave Marques, City Attorney David Nefouse, Administrative Assistant Gina Romero, and Fire Battalion Chief Franco Torrice, along with Dawn Cortesi and Riveira.

As for the game, the City won, 9-5.

“We had one practice,” said Dawn Cortesi. “It was last Thursday and only five people showed up.”

No matter. Breitenbucher plays rec league while Riveira has been involved in softball at all levels including college.

“We didn’t practice (as a team). Many of us play in the Del Webb softball leagues,” said Mary Long.

There was a fourth member of the Cortesi family involved in the game. Reno, Laverne’s husband, was the Del Webb Field public address announcer.

The City took a 4-0 first-inning. Riveira had a lead-off single and Torrice came through with a two-run hit to right.

Del Webb got one back in the home half with Schmidt’s two-out single plating Donaldson, who opened with a hit.

Del Webb cut the lead in half in the second. Cawley had a one-out single eventually scored on a fielder’s choice. But before that, Riveira, who played shortstop, fielded her grandmother’s grounder for the force out at third base for the second out.

“I thought if I was in a situation involving her that I would let the ball get through,” said Riveira on the play.

The City added to the lead in the fourth. Hits by Nefouse, Torrice and Dawn Cortesi coupled with Brown’s two-run single to right made it a 6-2 game.

Del Webb answered with a run in the home half. Meagher’s RBI single scored Donaldson.

In the fifth, the City managed to pad the lead to 9-3. Consecutive hits by Jorgenson and Marques were followed by RBI singles by Riveira and Harmon.

Del Webb answered responded in that same inning. Schmidt had a lead-off single and Gibson walked. Cawley had an RBI hit to deliver home Schmidt while Lori Stillman’s single plated Cawley.

The City behind the pitching of Breitenbucher – Del Webb managed a fly ball and two grounders – closed out the game with a one-two-three seventh inning.

“It was so much fun,” said LaVerne Cortesi on the experience of playing softball with her daughter and granddaughter.

But it was more than about the final score of the game.

For the Cortesis, it was about the memories.

“I’m elated,” LaVerne added.