HUNTINGTON Ƶ The new Huntington WomenƵs Softball League is welcoming participants.
Women 18 or older are eligible and encouraged to apply to be part of the slow-pitch league, and it is open for all skill levels, according to league founder and organizer Ginnie Webb.
ƵEven if youƵve never played before and youƵd just like to check it out, itƵs a really good inclusive activity for people to learn and get a feel for it,Ƶ Webb said. ƵA lot of times they stick with it and love it and play it for years.Ƶ
Webb
The first game is slated for Friday, April 19, and the season lasts for three months, with games being played Friday evenings at Barr Field off James River Road in Huntington.
The Huntington WomenƵs League is hosted by . ItƵs been a group effort from the softball community to bring to fruition, Webb said.
ƵSeveral women who play in the coed league have supported the womenƵs league by sharing posts, joining teams or helping us find players,Ƶ she said.
Webb and her sister have been trying to start a womenƵs league for some time now; the pair grew up playing softball together.
ƵItƵs been really hard to get the word out and get people interested in being involved in the community ever since COVID,Ƶ she said. ƵItƵs something we want to do for women in the Tri-State. My sister and I are currently playing on different teams to have enough experienced players to coach the women who may not have as much experience into a successful first season.Ƶ
Teams pose after a coed tournament March 16 to raise funds and awareness of the Huntington WomenƵs Softball League.
Submitted photo
GHPRD hosted a coed fundraiser tournament March 16 to raise awareness and funds for the new womenƵs league. Webb, a Huntington native, currently runs the menƵs and coed leagues in Huntington and has played on the Huntington coed softball league herself for many years.
She started playing softball when she was seven and was a varsity pitcher all four years at Spring Valley High School. After high school, Webb said there werenƵt many softball opportunities for women, and she started playing coed.
ƵThat was fun, but usually coed takes the cream of the crop and it kind of leaves a lot of women with no place to play ball, so I thought if we had a womenƵs league, we can bring that interest back alive and get more people involved,Ƶ she said. ƵThat way if after high school or after whatever league theyƵre playing is up, thereƵs still something to continue to stay in shape, socialize and get out of the house one day a week and just do something for ourselves.Ƶ
The Huntington WomenƵs League currently has three teams, but Webb said she expects it to grow. WebbƵs team, the Huntington Honey Badgers, is comprised of women from the home league and is all skill levels; Team Crush is a bit more skilled, traveling and playing in womenƵs tournaments, and the third team, Hits Different, used to play in the Louisa, Kentucky, womenƵs league.
ƵThat leagueƵs dwindled quite a bit, so theyƵre bringing their team over here to try to help us build this league up,Ƶ Webb said. ƵTheyƵre about neck and neck with us, I feel, as far as experience and talent goes, and weƵre hoping to add a few more teams.Ƶ
The deadline to apply for the womenƵs league is March 31. Spots on each team are still available with room for one to two more teams to join the league. Those interested in participating can fill out the registration link , and Webb said she encourages women to like the for announcements and deadlines. They can also register by calling or visiting the GHPRD office located in Heritage Station or sending a Facebook message.
ƵThey can get women registered and signed up, as well as men for coed and menƵs league; as long as they can reach somebody thatƵs within the league, we can get you signed up,Ƶ Webb said. ƵI know thereƵs a lot of women who havenƵt heard about it that may be interested in joining, and I feel like now is the perfect time because we still have time before registration ends for them to climb aboard if theyƵre interested.Ƶ
Webb said she hopes women who join the league gain mental and physical health benefits. She also hopes to have sponsorships to help cover team fees, though even if that is not an immediate possibility, she said, the cost would be $25 per person.
ƵPhysical health is really important; thereƵs not a lot of exercise for women around here unless you want to pay per session for yoga or pay a monthly membership,Ƶ Webb said.
ƵInstead of going out to eat or going out and drinking socially or something like that, you can come down here to the ball field and have a good time and exercise and make friends,Ƶ she continued. ƵItƵs definitely a social activity, and I just hope that women gain a sense of accomplishment; youƵre working toward the goal but also youƵre doing it for yourself.Ƶ
When the season starts in April, Webb said sheƵs most looking forward to seeing new faces and helping women learn to play and how to field.
ƵWe have a strong group of women all looking forward to expanding, making it a larger group and seeing what the season holds,Ƶ she said. ƵFrom the start to the end of the season, you see a lot of people just canƵt wait to come back. IƵm most looking forward to growing the league and retaining players and seeing where it goes. We just hope to have as many players and spectators as possible; everyoneƵs welcome to come down.Ƶ
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