Get your glove, softball season is here!

Winter appears to be over, and things outside are turning green, which means one season is ending and another will begin. If you haven’t guessed it, I’m talking about softball. Kids are putting away their basketball uniforms and pulling out the old ball and glove.

We have age divisions from 3 to 18. Last year was our first year for our new pony tail league for girls ages 3 to 4, and it was a huge success. We had five teams in this age division. We had a lot of little girls playing in the dirt, waving at their moms, but they also learned where the bases were and which way to run. This league was strictly for fun and to learn the basics. We all had a blast and are looking forward to more fun this year.

Three years ago we changed our league to fast pitch. This year all ages from coach pitch through 18 will be playing fast pitch with ASA fast pitch rules.

Around the community, there seems to have been some question as to whether or not Natchez was going to have a softball league this year. Where this incorrect information originated has yet to be determined.

As for clarification for all parents and girls of Natchez who may have been misled, the league will be playing softball in Natchez as it has for more than four decades.

We would also like to clarify how the girls are formed into a team. Girls in the Natchez-Adams Softball League are placed in a draft, and coaches draw numbers to determine the order of selection. Then each coach chooses their teams in order of the number consecutively drawn.

This seems to be the least biased way to keep teams from being stacked. We have lost many of our girls to Vidalia this year because we would not allow teams to come into the league already picked from schools.

This process leaves out many girls that want to play ball. They are left with no place to play ball. They are not on a school or handpicked team, and there are not enough girls left to play on another team.

While this may be done at an older age, we decided that we would continue to choose teams the same way we have always done. This technique has been successful for more than 20-plus years, and while girls may not always end up on the same team as their best friends, they always leave the season with new friendships.

The league was formed for recreation and the development of the talent of young girls.

The league was not formed to serve a league of only All-star quality players.

However, the league does support post-season All-star teams. All girls of every ability should have ann equal opportunity to play softball.

After league season ends, the league supports tournament teams from the league when a coach approaches the board for its support.

We would love to have teams from Natchez once again. But our main priority is for every girl of the Miss-Lou to have a place to play.

So if you want to play on a team equally divided and make new friends, get out your glove and get registered for a new season of softball. Girls may register at Sports Center through March 24.

Let’s play ball!

 

Bridget Wactor is a member of the Board of the Natchez-Adams Girls Softball League.