Marc Gofstein 
Special to Outsports

Happy Independence Day/Canada Day/Bastille Day, etc! 

Another couple of weeks have passed and more whirlwind adventures from the world of Gay Softball. While the weather has been getting hotter and hotter, it can’t even compare to the steaming hot softball that’s been played on fields across the country. 

Most NAGAAA affiliated leagues are in the final stages of deciding their 2003 Gay World Series participants, and the drama is getting quite heavy as the final berths to Washington, D.C. are being determined. 

Add to that the Fourth of July Weekend and the several tournaments taking place around the U.S. and Canada, and you have athletic fireworks galore…truly appropriate for this patriotic time of the year. 

Here, now, are the news and notes from around the gay softball world. A reminder, if you want to see your city, league and/or team mentioned here, let me know…and I’ll do my best to make sure you’re included. 

EMERALD CITY SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION – SEATTLE

What a fantastic finish to a fantastic season! The ECSA’s 2003 Spring Season concluded on a drama and exciting note, as the final Gay World Series berths were determined in an exciting weekend of playoffs. 

With the regular season championship berths already awarded (R-Place Pounders in the A-Division, RPlace Monarchs in the B-Division and Timberline CHAOS! in the C-Division), the league still had three additional berths to award. 

In the B division a best two out of three tournament between the Rein Fire Ranch Rainiers and the Timberline Tramps proved to be a great day of softball. In the first game the Tramps held on until the end and dropped the game by 1 in the last inning to the Rainiers. The Rainiers held on in the 2nd game for the win and the berth. 

The C-Division was a no holds barred, smack down fight to the finish! The RPlace Brewers and the Cuff Commandos played their best and were a big crowd favorite. The first game narrowly went to the Brewers (scoring the winning run in the last inning). The Commandos came back in game 2 and beat the Brewers by a two runs to set up the “championship bout”. The game started out close – but the Commandos’ reserves kicked in and they running away with the game, earning them a trip to Washington, D.C. 

The D-Division was the final berth to be determined, and what a fantastic story unfolded. In fact this was truly a Cinderella story on the softball field. To begin the season, the Bud Light/Rein Fire Ranch Rainiers actually started as an expansion team. Basically, an email went out to the league saying that if there was “anyone left” or “that still wanted to play” show up on March 15th and you can be on this team. Well, the team made up of the “leftovers” and the “late comers” showed that through some hard work and not being intimidated by “returning teams” – anything can happen! With extensive practices run by coach, Frank Pichinini, a 15-3 record propelled them to clinch the D division berth. 

GREATER LOS ANGELES SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION – Los Angeles

A hot Southern California Sunday was made even hotter with some scorching softball that determined L.A.’s final entrants to the “Big Dance” in Washington, D.C. 

Having already determined it regular season champions (Stray Cats in the A-Division, One-Eyed Jacks in the B-Division and Batboys in the C), the playoffs were needed to complete the lineup for L.A.’s contingent. 

The B-Division was the biggest surprise as the bottom-seeded Titans scored the berth by upsetting both the Dawgs and the Destroyers (two teams that started the season hot, but cooled down severely towards the end of the regular season). Team coach, manager and third baseman, Kyle Scheckner gets a hardy congratulations for keeping his troops focused and strong all season (not only his B team, but also the C and D Titans as well, who all finished strong in their divisions. There is definitely a strong future for “Titans, Inc.” 

While the C-Division was not as surprising, it was still a wonderful storybook finish for the winners. The L.A. Bandits, who made the move this season to the C-Division after spending several years in the D/Recreational ranks, triumphed in the championship game over perennial powerhouse Hollywood X. 

The D-Division saw its regular season champion run the table to capture the only berth for the division. Joel Gallardo’s El Dorado Knights had a solid season and will go to D.C. with a strong chance at taking the D-Division title. 

In the Women’s Division, a strong year produced a lineup of solid contenders for the GWS. L.A. Bent will, once again, represent the league in the Women’s Competitive Division, while in the Alternative Division, the Boltz will go D.C. as the league representative and the Outlaws will go as the Champions of the Golden Bear Classic Qualifier. The newly formed Women’s Rec Division will have the Hellcats as representatives. 

CHESAPEAKE & POTOMIC SOFTBALL – Washington DC / Baltimore

The hosts of the 2003 Gay Softball World Series are working like dogs to prepare our Nation’s Capitol for, what should be, a fantastic event. This year, the league is sending nine (9) teams to the series, with six coming from the Open Division and three from the Women’s Division. From the open division, D.C. Metz (A), D.C. Eagle and D.C. Nitro (B), Mr. Henry’s/Sports Plus Hawks and Ziegfeld’s Ellas Fellas (C), and PSS Rams (D) will be D.C.’s representatives while, in the Women’s Division, it will be D.C. Storm and Irish Channel Pub Diva (Alternative) and Mautner Project (Recreational). 

CACTUS CITIES SOFTBALL LEAGUE – Phoenix 

The hot desert heat couldn’t stop the Cactus Cities Softball League from having another fantastic season. Though smaller than a lot of other leagues (11 Open Division and 9 Women’s Division teams), Phoenix has been producing quality teams that have been scoring some major tournament victories of late. 

For 2003, Phoenix is sending the following teams to Washington, D.C.: Kaddywhompus (Women’s Competitive), The Biz (Women’s Alternative), Charlie’s Diablos (Open B), Movies on Central MadDogs (Open C), and Buddy’s Colts (Open D). 

NEW LEAGUE FORMING IN NEW JERSEY

Hey, all OUTSPORTS.COM fans and supporters in the state of New Jersey…there is a gay softball league in the early stages of forming right in your own neighborhood. The Garden State Softball Association, under the leadership of Commissioner, David Chandler, is beginning to recruit players for 2004 (with a possibility of a fall 2003 season if interest is strong enough. 

Check out their website (listed above), or simply contact the Commissioner to get more information. 

Also, the league is seeking persons interested in serving as Assistant Commissioner or League Secretary. You should contact the Commissioner to let him know you’re interested.