It’s back. By popular demand, organizers hope.
After a long hiatus, house league softball is coming to Elmira this spring.
“The interest is looking like it’s starting to come back a bit,” said league convener Greg Brubacher.
Some 10 years ago, Elmira fielded both rep and house league softball teams for youngsters. But registration numbers began to fall by the wayside as other sports such as soccer gained popularity in the township, and interest in softball subsequently waned.
As the community continues to grow, however, that interest appears to be renewed, said Brubacher.
In recent months, the Elmira Minor Softball Association, which has just enough players to field rep teams, has seen an upsurge in interest.
“We thought that it’d be a great idea to start it up again because the interest has been there,” said Brubacher.
Rep teams that are part of North Waterloo softball tend to travel to surrounding areas such as Conestogo, St. Jacobs, St Clements, and New Hamburg, whereas house league teams travel much less, playing their games in town.
“Now with the community growing and everything, there are a lot of new young families in there and they’re all looking for a little bit of a different thing other than just soccer.”
As a result, the Elmira Minor Softball Association is looking to field three teams of 10 players this spring in both T-ball (ages 4-5) and rookie ball (ages 6-7, with eight-year-olds welcome as well).
“I’m really hoping that we can get the numbers,” said Brubacher.
“We don’t keep score – it’s strictly just to have fun, and we’re trying to get the kids to have fun … and get to know the game,” he said, noting that teaching fundamentals is the goal.
Registration takes place today (Mar. 7) from 9 a.m. until 12 noon, and on Mar. 10 from 7-9 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion, 11 First St. in Elmira. For more information, call Greg Brubacher at 519-669-4781.
