Tiverton Men's Softball League Goes On and On

A Tiverton sports institution is rapidly concluding its regular-season schedule and its squads are already setting their sights on playoff action.

Established in the late 1960s, the Tiverton Men’s Softball League (TMSL) is alive and well more than four decades later, servicing players of ages 18 years and older. This year, the slow-pitch league consists of eight teams, all of which play 28 games (four times against each league opponent) during a regular-season schedule that opened during the first week of May and will conclude during the week of Aug. 15.

TMSL teams, however, will remain active through most if not all of September as the league operates its annual playoff system, which includes either best-of-five or best-of seven series for three rounds. The league provides a viable opportunity for men of all ages to engage in recreational activities and (since most are longtime athletes) to keep their competitive juices flowing.

The TMSL maintains a Web site at www.tivertonsoftball.com., and regularly updates its information.

While renowned as a low-key league, the TMSL also features high-level and quality competition as players of various skill levels showcase their skills during the five-month season. Two games are scheduled nightly at the located on Bulgarmarsh Road (6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.), usually four weeknights per week, with some five-night weeks slated as well. Regulation games are seven innings in length.

“The camaraderie in this league is incredible,” said TMSL officer Ted Fitzpatrick, who serves as its unofficial president. “Everyone playing in this league is friends with everyone else. They are all very competitive between the lines during games, but then they like to go out and drink beer together after games.”

Fitzpatrick has been a fixture in the TMSL for nearly 40 years. He joined the league as a player in 1972 (“I finally retired a couple of years ago,” he said) and has been active in its administration for decades.

“This league basically runs itself,” Fitzpatrick said. “We hold a few meetings before the start of the season to get organized, but after that, we spend most of our time playing games. This time of the year, all I do is pretty much makes arrangements to reschedule rained-out games.”

Listed with Fitzpatrick as “League Officials” for the 2011 season are Gary Doster, Ken Dias, Paul Amaral, Tom Faria, Bill Silvia and John Lavery. Brian Barboza and Shannon Dallaire serve as scorekeepers and umpires (all certified by the Amateur Softball Association) are provided through Jack Hackett of the Scholarship City Softball League of Fall River, MA.

During the 2011 season, the TMSL boasts the following teams (and their records through Aug. 2): ACF (18-2), Giants (19-3), Fernco (11-7), AmWins (13-11), (10-10), Affordable Excavation (5-13), Amaral Electric (6-16) and Tito’s (2-121).

“It’s a very competitive league,” Fitzpatrick said. “Most of our games are close. We have a ‘mercy rule’ (teams leading by at least 15 runs after five innings or by at least 12 runs after six frames are automatically declared winners), but we don’t use it very often.”

While essentially loose in its organization, the TMSL also firmly adheres to several established rules and regulations. All players are required to be attired in proper baseball/softball uniforms (sweatpants, nylon pants, gym trunks or blue jeans are prohibited) which must be in “decent condition” (major rips and blood stains are taboo). Teams are required to submit rosters of at least 14 players, with no maximum roster size established.

To enhance the league’s image, player ejections earn an automatic one-game suspension, cursing is banned and “unacceptable conduct” results in season-long suspensions.

“We usually have no major problems during the season because again, everyone knows each other,” Fitzpatrick said. “Ejections are rare.”

During games, teams are required to operate the manual scoreboard. After games, teams are responsible for locking the league’s equipment shed and turning off the field lights.

On a weeknight in late July, Affordable Excavation battled ACF for just two innings until lightning and thunderstorms forced postponement of that game and one slated to follow. Competition was keen and three tape-measure home runs were struck in the first inning alone until Mother Nature intervened.

According to Fitzpatrick, the TMSL sponsors a season-ending Awards Banquet every year, during which it distributes numerous individual and team awards.

“We have held the banquet for the past few years at the Mesa 21 Restaurant in Fall River and we’ll probably go back there this year,” Fitzpatrick said. “It will probably be held in the middle of October after we compile all the statistics and order the trophies.”

And then it will be time to start planning for the 2012 season at Raposa Field.