For the Love of the Game: Evergreen Park Girls Softball

Ray Richter wakes up every day at 4 a.m., leaves home for work as a union plumber at 5 a.m. and usually is done by 3 p.m. His day, however, is hardly complete at that time.

After work, he heads over to Yukich Park to perform his duties as president of Evergreen Park Girls Softball. Often, that keeps him busy until around 10:30 p.m.

Richter says his extremely busy days are worth it because his daughters love to play softball. He’s the father of four girls, three of whom participate in the league.

“Just letting my girls play,” Richter said of the most rewarding part of being the league president. “I’m here for my daughters. That’s all it is.”

Ray’s not the only one busy in the Richter family. His wife, Deborah, runs the concession stand and often takes care of the two boys in the family, who play baseball.

The family’s oldest daughter, Amanda, loves the sport.

“Oh, she loves it,” Deborah Richter said. “Softball is her life. If she could eat, sleep and live it, she would.”

Says Amanda: “It’s just fun playing with my friends.”

The Richters are just one of the families making sure Evergreen Park Girls Softball runs smoothly, and the community is grateful for them and everyone else involved.

The league consists of over 250 girls, almost exclusively from Evergreen Park, from ages 4-14. It runs from mid-April until late June for most girls, while the elite team plays almost year-round.

“It’s great because we get to meet a lot of the parents that we normally wouldn’t meet in our neighborhood,” said Jerry Doorhy, whose daughter Bailey plays Tee Ball. “It’s good that the girls get to see each other outside of a school atmosphere.”

This is the first year that the Doorhys are involved with the league. Jerry’s wife, Anne, is the head coach of Bailey’s team, the Blue Demons.

“I think it’s awesome for the girls,” Anne Doorhy said. “It’s a chance for them to build self-esteem and understand that they can contribute to a team.”

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