By Terra Avilla
My husband is a very social creature, so when I first moved to Susanville and it seemed like he ‘knew everyone’ – it did not really strike me as odd. What I did find strange was how often his introductions began with, “I know them through softball,” “I played slow-pitch with them” or “I was their umpire for co-ed softball league.”
I had played slow-pitch softball on and off in Reno over the years but the difference between their league and ours is night and day. Here, we are one big family. After living in Susanville for six years, I truly appreciate the community and friendship that is built between the players of our local league.
There is something relaxing about meeting with friends in the summer evenings, laughing about our days, while trying to whack a ball with a stick.
I have met some of my very favorite people through our local slow-pitch softball league: Kassie Moore, Aurelio Castenda and his family, Ashley Dyer, Melissa Martin and Joshua Hutchinson to name a few. This list is never-ending.
Just so everyone is aware – we as a community have some very athletic people that play in these leagues, both male and female. I am often amazed at how athletic a lot of our community members are. The people you see and work with every day.
However, if you want to form a team next year you can totally be encouraged to know that when I formed a team, I think we won… ummm… like three games. Yet we had fun every single time we played!
Mom and dad time. Time where we could hang out with our peers and not talk about work or bills, or the other things that stress us out. We laughed at Kirby Lively as she danced and posed in right field, sat there amazed as Molly Boulanger hit balls over the fence and laughed as teased each other for missing a routine ground ball.
For those of you that have never watched a softball game, I strongly encourage you to stop by Riverside Park this week around 6:00p.m. and just watch. I guarantee that the shenanigans occurring on those fields will make you laugh. This is the first week of play-offs so it would be a great week to come.
Moreover, as far as a family event, it makes my heart smile every night I am there with my kiddos.
I know that Peach and Pearl will have many memories of running around the park ringing their cowbell, yelling for their mommy and daddy playing on the field. There are always plenty of little kids there for them to run around with.
All the participants take turns watching the kids. For example, two weeks ago I was in the outfield when I watched Janessa Mcnutt pick up Pearl, kiss her squishy little face – and carrying her on her hip, until the end of the inning. The McNutts. Another family I have been blessed to meet through slow pitch. The friends that become family.
Three years ago, I was in an accident and I cannot tell you how many well wishes I received from our slow-pitch softball community.
The relationships built through this league are made evident again by this week’s upcoming softball tournament. A tournament to help Jacob and Tyla Robiks’ five year-old daughter who has been diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma. Melissa and Joshua organized the tournament and within days our local slow pitch softball community had it fully filled with teams.
Different players and teams have worked hard to put together the tournament to support this family. This is what these people do. This is what our community does. We rally around one another. We support one another.
If you are free this Saturday and Sunday I strongly encourage you to come to Riverside Park and watch some of the tournament. Donate to a more-than-worthy cause or inquire about forming a team for next year’s season. You will not regret it.
I am so thankful my social butterfly of a husband convinced to start playing here. It is one of the reasons I love the place we live.
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