Between innings of a Tri-County League game, the catcher for Easthampton Savings Bank dipped a towel into a cooler of ice water, then draped it around his neck.
"Important to stay hydrated in hot weather. Also important to keep the head and body cool," he said.
Especially important if you're 56 years old - a "senior citizen" by baseball standards.
So it is with Dan "Gunner" Genovese, whose love for the game has brought him back to regular hardball after several seasons with the Westfield Wheelmen, a vintage team that plays by baseball rules of the 1880s and wears replica uniforms of that bygone era.
"It happened because of Joe Jachym (manager of the Easthampton Savings Bank team)," Genovese said.
"Joe and I play softball together in Enfield, and one night in early May he mentioned that he might need a catcher when the Tri-County season starts. I told him I could help him out once in a while if he needed it. His answer: 'Be careful what you ask for,' and he meant it."
Genevose is doing more than "helping out." He has become the team's regular catcher, and he's doing a first-rate job. He's even contributing timely base hits in addition to running the game from his position behind the plate.
"I believe I'm holding my own and not embarrassing myself too much," he said
Genovese ranks among the true "graybeards" of Tri-County ball. He's right up there with Chris Corkum, who remained active with Oliver Auto Body teams until his retirement in 2010 at the age of 57.
Don't call them old-timers: From left - Ralph Edwards, 53; Karl Oliveira, 54; and Dan Genovese, 56 - are active in the Tri-County League
Gene Gorajec of Chicopee played until his late 40s. Wes Carr, who settled in Western Mass. after a pro career with the International League's Springfield Cubs of the early 1950s, pitched and played first base for the Tri-County's Chicopee Falls Tigers until the age of 50.
In today's TCL, the American Division's "golden oldies" are Genovese and St. Joseph's of Thorndike teammates Karl Oliveira, 54, and Ralph Edwards. 53. In the National Division, the first-place East Longmeadow Navigators have a 53-year old leadoff man, John Boozang.
"This is the 10th season for 'Booz' in Tri-County, but he has been bouncing around in adult leagues since he was a standout at Lafayette College from 1984-'87," said Navigators manager Paul Beturne.
"He's absolutely the most influential guy on the team. Great job leading off, and the steadiest outfielder we have. It's amazing to watch our young players soak in the things he says and does. Just a great guy to be around."
Oliveira, who also serves as the TCL's secretary, has been in the league since he was an 18-year-old senior at Palmer High School. He played for Ludlow's Unity AC before bringing baseball back to Thorndike in 1995 when the St. Joseph's Club agreed to sponsor a team again after a long absence from the Tri-County scene.
Edwards played for Springfield Tech coach Howie Burns, graduating in 1983. He has played Tri-County ball for 30 years, with seven teams. He played on a Manny's TV and Appliances championship club before joining Oliveira in Thorndike eight years ago.
Genovese had been away from Tri-County ball since 1983, when he played for a Union Auto Parts team. He played for Westfield High School and Westfield American Legion Post 124 in 1977-80, then at American International College.
"After college I played on several softball teams for a while, then put the game on the shelf to help my wife Nancy raise our two wonderful daughters. We have been married for 33 years," he said.
Genovese came back to baseball after seeing a vintage game on ESPN at Pittsfield's Wahconah Park.
In 2006, he formed the Westfield Wheelmen (named in honor of a town team that existed in Westfield from 1878-1900). The period from 2007 to 2015 were the peak time for vintage baseball hereabouts with tournaments in Westfield, as well as fund-raising games that would draw sizable crowds in surrounding towns.
"We came away with several Rabbit Maranville Cup titles in Fathers Day Weekend tournaments at Forest Park in Springfield. We still do six or seven dates along with our annual trek to the Old Beth Page Tournament on Long Island in early August," he said.
He also finds time to play in the Western Mass. Over 25 Wood Bat League, the Quabbin Valley Over 30 League and various softball leagues through the fall.
"Catching takes a toll on the body, and right about this time of year I'm pretty dinged and bruised;" he said. "Mornings-after can be pretty tough, but my recovery time is good. One day, I caught 14 innings in a Quabbin Valley game, but I was ready to go again in Tri-County the next night."
The bulk of Genovese's Tri-County teammates and rivals are current or recent college players.
"It's always a fun moment when somebody asks how old I am. When I tell them 56, they are stunned. It's quite an experience to see and listen to these great young men just starting out . All good guys," he said.
His Tri-C manager is the son of Jim Jachym, a former Westfield High School pitching ace of the '60s.
"Gunner is doing great for us. He catches most of the time, and plays first base when we need him," Joe Jachym said.
Genovese handled first base on a recent Friday night and contributed a big hit in an 8-2 victory against St. Joseph's at its home ballpark.
"Joe's dad, Jim Jachym, was my high school and American Legion coach in 1977-80," Genovese said, "Jim's father, Joe Jachym Sr., would give me batting instructions during Legion practices."
Joe the elder played at Notre Dame, coached for decades at Westfield Trade and was elected to the Massachusetts High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.
Away from the field of play, Genovese serves as product manager for OMG Roofing Products of Agawam, where he has worked for 31 years.
Westfield's "Gunner" also does a lot of writing, all of it involving Westfield sports history.
He wrote "The Old Ball Ground" in two volumes, covering the history of Westfield baseball from pre-Civil War years through World War II. His writing includes painstaking research into the career of Adonis Terry, who won 197 games over 14 seasons in the 19th century National League.
"I'd like to see Adonis elected to the Western Mass. Baseball Hall of Fame," he said.
He also wrote "Rough House," about early 20th century pro basketball in Westfield ". . . when the game was played in a chicken-wire cage, and with plenty of aggression."
On top of all that, "Gunner" also has another important role: Grandfather to P.J. Wellspeak IV, who's almost 2 years old.
"P.J. tells me that he likes the Yankees, but I'm working on that," Grandpa Genovese said.
Garry Brown can be reached at geebrown1918@gmail.com