Adult Co-Ed Softball Returns to Stockbridge

Photos provided by Double D Image Creations

For the first time since 2019 adult co-ed softball players are flocking to Stockbridge on Thursday night in surprisingly large numbers this summer.

Eleven teams and over 120 players from around the area answered the call when Jaimee Gauthier put out the word that Stockbridge Community Education was going to attempt to have another adult softball league in town.

The last time Stockbridge had a league, there were just four teams that played in 2019 prior to the Covid pandemic in 2020.

“We tried to start a league a couple of years ago, but the wasn’t much interest from the community,” Gauthier said. “I reached out to Community Ed again this year about trying to put a league together and Ernie Rivers gave me full rein.”

“I asked Tracie Lentz to help, and Cyndi Eibler offered her services, and they have been great,” Gauthier said. “I handle the administrative tasks and they handle the rules and implementation since they have more recreation experience.”

The league is meant to be fun for the players with each team having 10-16 players on a roster, but when teams are short on a given night, other players are willing to sub and play for other teams.

Teams are enjoying it so much, they are playing pick-up games on Sunday nights and challenging each other to scrimmages on non-game nights.

The league uses the two high school softball fields and the JV baseball field for its five games every Thursday. They have used the services of high school-age umpires as well as one old-timer that just enjoys softball but can’t play the game anymore.

“It has been so fun for my team, and I am enjoying it all,” Gauthier said. “The excitement from the community and all the teams is making it fun too.”