All that white stuff is melting off the ground and the geese are flying over to trumpet in the arrival of spring. Or maybe…just maybe…if you listen closely, they actually are proclaiming, "Softball season is almost here!" Soon we will be throwing out base runners, catching pop flies, hitting singles in the gap, and of course doing everyone’s favorite – CIRCLE OF DEATH (just a good warm-up exercise…don’t worry)! This means that softball season is just around the corner!

I would like to remind all our Special Olympics athletes that we are a Summer Games sport. Not only that, but after Summer Games our season keeps going. So even if you participate at Summer Games in another sport, I welcome you to come to softball as well so you can join us in the end of the season tournaments at the end of July. Also, we have some regulars who will be committed to National Games functions, so new athletes and volunteers will be needed to complete our Summer Games roster.

The Parks and Rec Department is currently working out the schedules for everyone who has applied to use the fields and will release the official schedules later this month. Keeping that in mind, our practices are set to begin on Sunday, April 4th. Our practices are tentatively scheduled to run from 2:30-4:30pm during the cooler spring months (April-May). During the hot summer months of June and July, practices will run from 5:30-7:30pm, which will let us practice during the cooler evening hours. I have once again requested to use the practice venue at Orchard Park if that field is available. As soon as I receive confirmation, I will let you all know.

Our team has a great variety of skill levels and years of experience. We always are happy to welcome any new players, whether you are new to softball, played at the challenger level, or you live and breathe softball. If there are folks out there who would like to volunteer, you are welcome as well. If you are interested in joining softball this year and would like more information give me a call at 235-5209 or you can drop me an e-mail (hunter@meteo.psu.edu). See you soon!

Tentative Practice Schedule (there will be 1-2 tournaments added when they are announced)

April 4, 11, 18, 25 2:30-4:30

May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 2:30-4:30

June 6 2:30-4:30

June 10 -12 Summer Games

June 20, 27 5:30-7:30

July 4 No practice

July 11, 18, 25 5:30-7:30