A dozen years after he says he left home at 13 and wound up on the streets, Marc Loebel is hitting balls and scoring runs.

The Simi Valley man has company in the dugout: He's joined two softball teams where most of the players are homeless.

The former Little League player put the experience in just a few words as he headed back to practice.

"Wanted," Loebel said. "Part of a team, a family."

It's not unheard of to field a competitive team from the ranks of the homeless. Almost 50 soccer teams competed a month ago at the Homeless World Cup in Denmark.

But the fledgling homeless softball teams now taking the field in Simi Valley are considered unusual for the population that often struggles with drug addiction, mental illness and survival.

Called the "New Believers," the teams play for Sonrise Christian Fellowship, a church with an active ministry for the poor and homeless in the affluent city. One team is composed entirely of men, the other is open to both men and women.

Players from hills, arroyo

The players come from encampments in the hills and in the arroyo running through town; at least one lives in a van. Many admit to long years of addiction.

But to be on the team, they have to show up sober. They also have to attend church services.

The men's team lost its first game 32-9 last month. Still, the players were happy to score some hits. They had walked away without a run in a scrimmage before the start of the season in the Monday night church league games.

Then on game night, the drought ended.

Wearing blue caps and T-shirts printed with their team name, they faced off against the veteran players on the Church of the Living Christ team. Their opponents had uniform shirts, better equipment, good jobs and long years of playing together, but not more spirit.

Before the game started in the light of the setting sun over Rancho Simi Community Park, the New Believers prayed.

We all need to be one'

"Father, we're glad we are here," Loebel said as the men's team gathered in a circle. "We have a lot of personalities, and we all need to be one."

"Amen," the others said.

They agreed there would be no yelling at the umpire.

"We gotta watch our mouths," said Karen Dobson, the church volunteer who along with player Sanders Marine decided to start the teams.

Dobson had heard about the world soccer tournaments for the homeless and figured the Simi Valley church could try softball.

About 15 people made each team, she said.

"We had to turn people away," Dobson said. "I'll do three teams next year."

A variety of skills

Some have never played before. Others are former athletes, like Bruce Ohl, 44.

Ohl, who tore his jeans sliding into third base in the opening game, said he hadn't played for 25 years. But he can still recall the glory days.

"A couple of scouts were looking at me," he said. "I ran into trouble with dope and women at the same time. It really does a guy in."

Ohl, who says he's been sober for four years and lives in a van, yelled instructions to his teammates during the opening game.

"Just hit the ball," he shouted. "Put the bat on the ball."

Still the runs kept coming from their opponents. The core group of players for Church of the Living Christ had played together for more than 10 years, far longer than the fledgling team from Sonrise.

But the homeless guys had more players on their roster than most new teams, said umpire Matt Williamson.

"They did a lot better than some of the other new teams," he said. "At least it's something constructive for them to do."

All that's lacking is a win

The New Believers say they're out there for the fun. While they're at it, they're staying sober, Dobson said.

Marine, 24, said it's already been a good thing for him. "It got me involved in something other than nothing."

"This helps me stay healthy and clean and sober," said Heather Doan, a mother of two who says she played on championship softball teams as a young girl growing up in Simi Valley.

"Thank God for bringing us together," she said in a closing prayer after practice.

The teams haven't won a game, but the margin of defeat is shrinking. In its second outing last week, the men's team lost 26-11.

Coach Shawn Taylor, a construction worker who is living with his parents while he looks for a job, sees hope.

"They're improving," he said.