For Sol Aber, it's a time for hitting the ball.

For 45 years, Labor Day weekend has meant only one thing to Aber—YMCA Handball Tournament time.

And Aber, who is this year's handball national champion in the 85 and over category, is ready to slam in another win at the Y's Labor Day Handball Tournament in September.

Co-director of the tournament Rich Goosmann, owner of the Huntington Learning Center in Cupertino, says Aber has won national championships many times.

"Sol is the handball coach at San José State," Goosmann says. "And he's 86."

Aber holds 19 national titles and is a United States Handball Association Grand Master. In 1993 he was inducted into the Northern California Handball Hall of Fame for his playing prowess, and in November, he will be inducted a second time for his contributions to the sport.

In addition to battling opponents on the handball court, off the court Aber battled leukemia, initially in 1969 and again in 2001 when his spleen was removed. He remains in remission, and he keeps on going.

Goosmann says Aber gives a lot to the Y by teaching handball. On Fridays, he teaches a free class to youngsters at the Central Y in San Jose.

The old pro is giving back something he got long ago.

Aber grew up in New York City, where he learned to play handball in the schoolyard of Public School 36. His mentor was a man with one arm known only as Hawk.

"The Hawk used to play there every weekend and after school," Aber says.

For inner-city children, handball was an affordable sport.

"We have an expression: 'one ball, any wall,' " Aber says. "One of the nice things about handball is it doesn't require much in the way of equipment. It was easy and very inexpensive. All you needed was a pair of sneakers and a ball."

Aber honed his skills in New York and even picked up needed money during the Depression by playing in Sunday tournaments. The tournaments had 20 players, each kicking in $1 with the winner taking all.

"That was lot of money in those days," Aber says.

But for Aber, back in the 1940s, handball eventually took a back seat to marriage, children and work.

And the winter of 1947 with deep snows and an ill child convinced Aber and his wife, Estelle, that their native New York was not a place to raise their sons, Michael and Jeffrey.

"We went as far away from New York as we could," Aber says of their move in 1948. They went first to San Francisco, then Hayward for the sun and a year or so later to San Jose.

"We drove down Old Oakland Highway and saw the hills and the blossoms in San Jose," he recalls. "We sold our home in Hayward and came down here."

Working in insurance then, Aber says, "I walked past the old Central Y and thought I ought to go up there and see what they're doing.

"They had two handball courts, so I went in and took a look. Then I went around the corner to Leonard's Sporting Goods on Second Street and bought gloves, new shoes, a new gym outfit, and I came back to the Y.

"It's been an ongoing love affair since then."

Aber plays at the Central Y on The Alameda from 3 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

"Four of the five days, I'm on the court," Aber says. The other three, Saturday through Monday, he's an automobile salesman at Courtesy Chevrolet.

For the upcoming tournament, which starts Sept. 3 and continues through Sept. 6, Aber is playing doubles with one of his students, 14-year-old Bobby Schooler.

"We'll be the oldest and youngest combination in doubles. It will be a kick in the pants for him," Aber says with a laugh.

Aber continues to play doubles at the national tournament.

"I play with Max Lasskow of Florida," Aber says. "He's got 51 National titles. We're the awesome group of the aged members."

Looking toward the tournament, Aber mentions other Grand Masters who will be competing, include Kevin Del Grande and Bob Nedd. He also mentions the Dunne dynasty of father Michael and sons Michael Jr., Richard and Norm.

"The important thing is not so much us old geezers," Aber says. "Now it's the 14- to 20-year-olds coming in to play the game. We've got some great juniors coming to play. One of our gals, Crystal Diaz, just won the National Three Wall in Venice, Calif., last week. And her cousin Ricardo is on his way to being a pro."

With balls traveling at 60 to 100 miles per hour, it's not surprising that Aber says, "Handball is never dull or boring.

"In terms of physical activity, there isn't anything else that will give you a better workout. Cardiovascularly, you'll get your heart rate up. You'll use your right brain and left brain, and it gives great hand-eye coordination. It's competitive and it's fun."

Even though Aber has been diagnosed with emphysema, he's still playing.

"The doctors tell me it's good for me," he says.

The San Jose Central YMCA Labor Day Handball Tournament is Sept. 3-6 at the Y, 1717 The Alameda.

For information call 408.351.6309. Entry forms and checks payable to the Central YMCA must be received by 5 p.m. Aug. 27 at Huntington Learning Center, 7335 Bollinger Road, Suite A, Cupertino, Ca. 95014. Admission to the spectator's gallery is free.