Although you can’t tell from the weather, spring really is almost upon us — and the impending start of the City of Brotherly Love Softball League season is a telling sign.
CBLSL will host a skills day next week for new players and will kick off its season with Opening Day celebrations April 21, which this year will be extra-festive to celebrate the league’s 30th season.
CBLSL started with just one team and has since grown to more than 30 teams, home to more than 700 players.
“It’s amazing,” said CBLSL secretary Sue Gildea. “Thirty years ago, the league was started as a safe place to play, and now we’re not only able to do that but we even welcome straight players into our league as well. We’ve certainly come very far, not only because of the strong people in the league, but also our wonderful supporters, sponsors and people in the community outside of the league who have helped us along the way.”
The anniversary season will start to take shape March 16 with skills day, where new players can demonstrate their hitting, pitching, fielding and other skills, with team managers on hand to pick additions to their teams. About 45 people have already signed up, and Gildea said league officials do everything in their power to make sure no one is turned away.
Teams are divided between the women’s division, which has three classifications of skill levels, and the open coed division, which is home to competitive and recreational teams.
The evening of skills day, the league will host its second-annual pub crawl through the Gayborhood, which Gildea said drew more than 100 supporters last year.
The event will feature drink specials and prizes and opportunities for players, new and returning, to socialize with one another and league supporters.
The league itself is a good opportunity to immerse yourself in the LGBT community, Gildea said.
“It is certainly a great way to meet new people,” she said. “Beyond the bar scene, it’s a place to make friends, meet new people, learn things. I’ve been involved with the league going on 20 years and I joke about how much my holiday-card list has grown because of all the new people I’ve met with the league.”
Opening Day will honor the 30th anniversary milestone in a number of ways, including with an Old Timers’ game for former CBLSL players.
To learn more about the Old Timers’ game, email [email protected].
For updates on the coming season, visit www.cblsl.org, search Join CBLSL on Facebook or follow the league on Twitter at @CBLSL.
