Pickup Games Are All About Fun

Eighteen third and fourth graders – two teams of 9 – took to the Emerson Playground softball field eager to catch some balls and swing some bats.

Concord-Carlisle Youth Softball's summer season began Tuesday night and will run each week until July 26.

The organized pickup summer league – which has no fee, but requires registration – was created because many girls who played town-league softball during the spring season wanted to continue playing throughout the summer, first-time coach Matt Mullaney said.

Mullaney noted that the rules are pretty simple. The girls play to have fun. The only practice is when the girls throw before a batter takes the box. And if a girl doesn't want to play a position, she doesn't have to.

"I like pitching," said 9-year-old fourth-grader Rori Smith, adding that she's been a softball player since she was in first grade. "I (also) like third base because you can tag when they try to steal."

Third-grader Heather Szczesniak, 8, agreed that she likes pitching too. And batting. And playing with her friends.

With the teams decided – third and fourth graders mixed up – girls picked positions written on pieces of paper out of a hat and Mullaney randomly counted off a batting order.

"Now batting, Annie," announced Mullaney, as he played home-plate umpire as well.

Bob Kupp and Adam Winstanley were also on the field to play backup pitcher, batting, pitching, and catching coach and base-line coach. With Mullaney behind the catcher, Kupp and Winstanley were either down the third-base line or behind the pitcher, throwing the ball once the pitcher had thrown four balls.

"That was a good swing," Mullaney said to Annie.

"One out, one out girls in the field," he broadcasted to remind the players.

A few more bats were swung and a couple more balls were thrown until the first inning ended, but there's no score keeping or innings counted. The girls play for a good time for about an hour and a half. Coach makes sure that all the girls have at least one chance at the plate.

With the first inning over, the outfield ran in and the batting team was preparing to play.

"Can I pitch?" one girl asked Mullaney. "Can I play catcher?"

The girls drew positions from the hat and went out.

The first batter up from the second team got hit on her left elbow, so a "pinch" runner ran to first base for her while she was taken care of.

As the girls played, the three coaches were helped them; showing them how to swing and hold the bat, how to stand when catching the ball and the right time to throw with a runner on base.

"Anything you can hit, swing at," said one of the coaches.

"Good job, great catching job," encouraged another.

"Good job, Heather," said a second baseman to the pitcher.

"Alright girls, ready position," informed a coach.

"I got it," communicated one of the girls as the ball came close to her glove.

"Squish the bug. Squish the bug like you don't like it," laughed a teammate on the sideline who was motioning a swing to the batter.

Girls were trading off positions; many wanting to pitch and catch. Bases were stolen. Numerous girls crossed home plate. And a couple of wild pitches were thrown until around 7:45 when the final out was called. The girls, most of them with smiles on their faces, huddled up at home plate, the coaches congratulated them on a good and fun game, and the parents and on-lookers clapped.

"Thanks Mr. Awesome Coach," one girl said.