October 12, 2024 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

350 Girls Compete In Local Youth Softball:

Santa Monica Girls fast pitch is an ASA recreational softball league that has been providing recreational softball in Santa Monica for nearly 30 years.

This year 350 girls played recreational softball at Memorial Park, Clover Field, Marine Park, and the new ball field at John Adams. The rec season begins in February and runs through May. The league has five age divisions during the recreation season. Beginners known as the Minis or Six and under play a non-competitive, learning, nurturing environment.

Competition begins in the eight and under division where teams play inter league game among other Santa Monica teams. They are closely supervised by division and league staff to enhance skills, fair play, and the essence of teamwork.

The 10U, 12U, and 14U divisions focus on developing softball skills, knowledge of the game, and tempering the competitive edge. These three divisions while having the bulk of their games between teams within the Santa Monica league begin to travel to other communities and host teams from other communities in Intra league games. This year these communities included Torrance, San Pedro, Paramount, North Wilshire (Beverly Hills area), Downey, and El Segundo.

As the regular season wound down tournament play capped the season. In a two-week span n double elimination competition a championship game in each of the five divisions highlighted Closing Day Festivities.

With the competition of the regular season All Star teams formed and began practicing, preparing for tournament play. All-star players were picked from teams in each division by team staff using a popular voting system. This season The Santa Monica Girls Fast Pitch league is fielding six All Star teams. The teams represent the eight and Under Division, two teams represent the 10U division, 12U, 14U, and 16U divisions.

The two teams in the 10U division are Gold and Silver level players respectively. They normally compete in tournaments geared to their level of experience. This is the first rime the SMGFP league has fielded a 16U team. Players from SamoHi, Wildwood, Notre Dame,

Brentwood, and Marlborough round out this high school group. This team provides high school players, who grew up with the game as part of SMGFP, a place to play during their off high school season.

These six All Star teams have been competing in spring and summer tournaments from Oxnard to San Diego in preparation for District and hopefully state Championship tournament. The SMGFP believes these All Stars will bring back valuable skills and experience to seed the recreation league this fall and next spring seasons. This enhances the level of play for all those involved.

The ASA All Star season runs though July. The Fall Ball program begins in late August. More info on the league is available at their web site

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