Softball on The Beach Coast

By Robby Bearss

Slow-pitch softball has been around for well over a century now and the popularity of the sport only continues to grow. In fact the first game of softball was played back in 1887 on Thanksgiving between Harvard and Yale fans. In Chicago at the Farragut Boat Club, fans of Harvard and Yale were there waiting to hear the score of the football game. Once the final score of the game was announced Yale fans started throwing boxing gloves at the Harvard fans until someone picked up a stick and hit one of the gloves back at them. At that moment some yelled out “play ball”. They soon put together some quick rules and wadded up a few boxing gloves and played the first known game of softball. The game quickly spread around the area and was known at “indoor baseball”. From 1887 to present day the game has changed quite a bit and is now of the most popular recreational summer sports in America.

40 Million People Can’t be Wrong
The popularity of softball has grown substantially over the years and now softball is the number one played sport in the United States! It is estimated that over 40 million people play at least one game of softball a year.  Both men and women enjoy this game throughout the year and leagues are sponsored by bars, clubs, cities, and churches all over America. They range from friendly beginner play to elite traveling teams.  Softball is a game that offers adults a chance to continue to play America’s greatest past time long after high school or college.

Anyone, at Any Age, Can Play
Slow-pitch softball resembles American baseball but since the pitcher must pitch underhand the ball is much easier to hit. So to be a competitive softball player you do not have to be extremely athletic or coordinated. Also softball does not require a lot of running so players don’t have to worry about being in the best shape of their lives to compete even at the top levels. So these leagues are perfect for those that are looking for a summer hobby to keep them active in a social environment. Summer softball is also a great way to meet new people and to hang out with the friends you already have, because in our day-to-day lives these opportunities become harder to come by. Another reason softball is so popular is because it is very relatively cheap to play. The only equipment a player must have is a baseball mitt.

Parks & Recreation
The Beach Coast has many different opportunities to get involved in slow-pitch softball from weekly league play to weekend tournaments. These leagues and tournaments also have different divisions from friendly league to advanced. So a player will have no issue finding the league that best fits his or her skill level. If you’re looking to get involved in league or tournament play, just contact your local Parks and Recreation department. Then grab your mitt and play ball!

Robby Bearss is from a small town in Indiana called Wakarusa. Currently he is a junior at Ball State University. He is majoring in Telecommunications and minoring in Creative Writing.