Forgot to sign up? It's not too late!

Coaches, parents and nearly 110 softball players enjoyed a great Saturday afternoon testing their softball skills on assessment day last weekend. On Sunday, your coaches spent another afternoon divvying up the kids in to 12 teams and 4 divisions. You should be hearing from your coaches about practice schedules this week.

If you missed our assessments or haven't registered, it's not too late! We're still accepting registrations for new and returning players of all ages (7-16). Please download the player registration form on the right of this page and send it in to us as soon as possible. High school JV players from any area high school looking for quality playing time and coaching after the JV season ends are encouraged to join our program.

If you would, please drop us an email at madrivergirlssoftball@gmail.com and let us know you plan on registering. Late registrations are not necessarily guaranteed placement with specific teams or coaches, but everyone will have a chance to play.

Practices have already started and games begin on Saturday, April 4th.

Play Ball...soon! The 2008 Girls Softball Season is just a few rainy days away.

A good rainy January afternoon to all of you. Where I sit, it's a cool, drizzly 51 degrees. The skies are gray and full of moisture.

But you know what? It's not going to stay this way, and before too long our hands will yearn for the cool smoothness of a well-worn leather mitt. Our fingers will reach for the gentle rise of red-stiches on a yellow ball. Our ears will anticipate the slap of ball against leather and the ringing ping when the bat strokes that first pitch into the outfield grass beneath a warm spring Humboldt County sun.

Yes, the softball season is just around the corner. Your very own Mad River Girls Fastpitch Softball Association is already well along in preparing for the 2008 Spring Season. Our player assessment day is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 5th at the HSU Field House. Practices will begin by April 7th with games running from April 19th through June 7th.

In these pages in coming days and weeks, you'll find information regarding our first annual "Winter Warm-Up", a special clinic for all girls between 7 and 10 led by some of our best coaches and big sister players from the upper divisions.

Our league's calender is already posted here, as is our new email address where you can direct any questions or suggestions directly to our board of directors and coaches. You'll also find our 2008 spring player registration form and 2008 league sponsorship forms right here. (2008 registration forms will be mailed to all players from last year at the end of January! Anyone else who wants one, feel free to request one by phone at 822-3575 or via email at madrivergirlssoftball@gmail.com)

This blog will be updated periodically as time allows and necessity demands. Bookmark us now and check back often. And please take advantage of our email address to ask your questions or share some ideas on how to make the best youth softball league on the north coast even better.

Begin to loosen up those arms. Find a few minutes to toss the ball around with Mom, Dad, neighbors, or against the side of the house. The welcome cry of "Play Ball!" is just a few short weeks away.

'til next time.