AUBURN - The excess of snow from the last few days may just look like a cold hassle to many. But for some it will serve as a good excuse to get out and have fun.
The Y-Pals, along with some dedicated members of Auburn's softball community, will be hosting the second annual snow softball games on Feb. 24, at Casey Park.
Steve Pinchak, one of the event organizers, said there was a time when snow softball was a regular fixture on the winter sports calendar.
“Twenty years ago this all started,” he said. “It ran for 12 or 13 years and then it just sort of stopped. Then some other people took it over and it ran for two or three years, but it sort of dropped off after that.”
During its prime, snow softball was an incredibly popular event, hosting numerous teams in several divisions.
“It used to run two days,” Pinchak said. “We'd have men's and women's teams and co-ed. It was a lot of fun and it gave a lot of people something to do in the winter.”
Pinchak, who is an avid and longtime softball player, decided last winter that it was time to revive this long-held tradition.
“It had always been a really popular thing and a lot of fun to do when I was playing,” he said. “It was something a little different, so we thought it would be a good idea to try to bring it back and see what happened.”
Last year Pinchak said there was a good turnout; even if there was no snow, with several teams gathering for a muddy afternoon of late winter softball.
“Everybody had a lot of fun I think,” Pinchak said. “For the first year we had a pretty good turnout of teams and people and I think everyone really enjoyed doing it and we decided to keep it going this year.”
So far response has been strong.
“We've had people calling from all over,” Pinchak said. “I sent out a form to Lansing the other day. We are getting a lot of calls and a lot of people seem really interested in getting involved in this. Last year I don't think as many people knew about it and we are doing more to advertise it and I think word of mouth has helped a lot.”
Pinchak said he hopes to get at least eight to 10 teams out for the day.
The idea is for teams to consist of five men and five women, but Pinchak said all in all, most teams are pretty flexible with the rules and are just looking to have fun.
“Teams can have three guys and five girls,” Pinchak said. “As long as the other teams all agree, it is OK to be short a few players or to have different combinations of numbers. This is really about fun and there are a lot of people that love to play softball and are just looking to have some fun and get out of the house in the winter and chase the ball around in the snow and that is what it is all about.”
With the exception of the snow and cold, all the same rules of softball apply, with one concession to a bright colored ball.
“We had to do something so people could at least see the ball in the snow,” Pinchak said. “This way hitters can see it better and the fielders can see it when they are chasing it through the snow banks. Other than that, all the rules are the same as regular softball.”
As much as the focus is on fun, it is also for a good cause.
Pinchak said that historically the event has always been a fund-raiser, and the past two years have been no exception.
“We knew that we wanted to do this for charity,” Pinchak said. “So we hooked up with Y-Pals and the money we raise goes to helping them and what they do. This is a lot of fun for us because we love to play softball, but I think it is even more fun when you know you are doing something like this for a good cause.”
After the games are over, all teams are invited to Curley's for a buffet and awards ceremony.
“We thought it would be nice to do something like that,” Pinchak said. “And Curley's has been really good to us and they put out some good food. It's a nice way to unwind after the games and warm up and have a good time.”
Looking toward the future, Pinchak hopes to one day see snow softball as popular as it once was years ago.
“I think it can keep growing,” he said. “The more people hear about it the more I think it will keep growing. We'd like to get more kids involved and have separate divisions again and really get a lot of teams involved and get a lot of people out that really love to play softball.”
Steve Pinchak, one of the event organizers, said there was a time when snow softball was a regular fixture on the winter sports calendar.
“Twenty years ago this all started,” he said. “It ran for 12 or 13 years and then it just sort of stopped. Then some other people took it over and it ran for two or three years, but it sort of dropped off after that.”
During its prime, snow softball was an incredibly popular event, hosting numerous teams in several divisions.
“It used to run two days,” Pinchak said. “We'd have men's and women's teams and co-ed. It was a lot of fun and it gave a lot of people something to do in the winter.”
Pinchak, who is an avid and longtime softball player, decided last winter that it was time to revive this long-held tradition.
“It had always been a really popular thing and a lot of fun to do when I was playing,” he said. “It was something a little different, so we thought it would be a good idea to try to bring it back and see what happened.”
Last year Pinchak said there was a good turnout; even if there was no snow, with several teams gathering for a muddy afternoon of late winter softball.
“Everybody had a lot of fun I think,” Pinchak said. “For the first year we had a pretty good turnout of teams and people and I think everyone really enjoyed doing it and we decided to keep it going this year.”
So far response has been strong.
“We've had people calling from all over,” Pinchak said. “I sent out a form to Lansing the other day. We are getting a lot of calls and a lot of people seem really interested in getting involved in this. Last year I don't think as many people knew about it and we are doing more to advertise it and I think word of mouth has helped a lot.”
Pinchak said he hopes to get at least eight to 10 teams out for the day.
The idea is for teams to consist of five men and five women, but Pinchak said all in all, most teams are pretty flexible with the rules and are just looking to have fun.
“Teams can have three guys and five girls,” Pinchak said. “As long as the other teams all agree, it is OK to be short a few players or to have different combinations of numbers. This is really about fun and there are a lot of people that love to play softball and are just looking to have some fun and get out of the house in the winter and chase the ball around in the snow and that is what it is all about.”
With the exception of the snow and cold, all the same rules of softball apply, with one concession to a bright colored ball.
“We had to do something so people could at least see the ball in the snow,” Pinchak said. “This way hitters can see it better and the fielders can see it when they are chasing it through the snow banks. Other than that, all the rules are the same as regular softball.”
As much as the focus is on fun, it is also for a good cause.
Pinchak said that historically the event has always been a fund-raiser, and the past two years have been no exception.
“We knew that we wanted to do this for charity,” Pinchak said. “So we hooked up with Y-Pals and the money we raise goes to helping them and what they do. This is a lot of fun for us because we love to play softball, but I think it is even more fun when you know you are doing something like this for a good cause.”
After the games are over, all teams are invited to Curley's for a buffet and awards ceremony.
“We thought it would be nice to do something like that,” Pinchak said. “And Curley's has been really good to us and they put out some good food. It's a nice way to unwind after the games and warm up and have a good time.”
Looking toward the future, Pinchak hopes to one day see snow softball as popular as it once was years ago.
“I think it can keep growing,” he said. “The more people hear about it the more I think it will keep growing. We'd like to get more kids involved and have separate divisions again and really get a lot of teams involved and get a lot of people out that really love to play softball.”
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