AUBURN - Softball, from fast pitch to slow pitch, has a long and rich history in Auburn. A history that has seen its ups and downs over the years. Jim Festa, coordinator of the Auburn recreational softball program, has seen a lot of softball over the last 28 years since he took the position.

“Softball has always been big in Auburn,” Festa said. “There was a time when we had 225 teams ever year. It used to be a really big thing here, but it has fluctuated year to year.”

This is due at least in part to the changing nature of recreational sports and the people that play them.

Festa said a huge part of the popularity of softball through the late '70s and early '80s was the fast pitch leagues, which were serious and competitive, with Auburn teams often going on to compete on the state level.

But gradually, in Auburn and across the state, fast pitch has been phased out.

“Fast pitch was the guys that were willing to work on it during the off season,” Festa said. “They were very competitive teams all over the state. Now there might be a few down in Cortland and a few up in Oswego, but there really aren#'t too many fast pitch leagues left around here.”

In general, Festa said the number of teams and people playing softball in recent years locally and on the larger state level have been smaller than they were in the past.

This is due at least in part to what is available and what is happening in people's lives.

“There are more recreation sports out there now,” Festa said. “There are more people playing golf and things like that. Also people are getting older and they have families and kids and kids that play Pony League or Little League. These things take up a lot of time and people just don't have as much time as they used to to play softball.”

And while it has seen its highs and lows over the years, Festa has been encouraged by the turnout of teams across the board this summer.

Festa said there are around 90 teams playing in the women's and men's divisions.

“There are always peaks and valleys,” Festa said. “But this year we've got about 50 men's teams and about 40 in the women's. Some of our numbers are down a little, but in general that is pretty good.”

While in general the league as a whole is doing well, the women's major division isn't as jam-packed this summer.

“That is the more competitive women's division,” Festa said. “We are down a little bit there this year. But that is for the more competitive players.”

This can be traced to a changing philosophy about recreational sports, such as softball.

“A lot of people want to play one night a week and get out and have some fun and be with their friends and go down to the tavern or who ever sponsors the team and just have a good time,” Festa said. “That is more the direction things seem to be going these days.”

But gradually this approach has been helping bring in a new influx of players.

“We are starting to get more players,” Festa said. “We are getting more players 18 to mid-20s.”

While younger players are getting drawn to the game, the program has been striving to create a place for the older players too.

“We have the over-40 league now,” Festa said. “That has been doing well. It is a good opportunity for the guys that used to play a lot more to keep playing and still have time for family and the kids and everything else that is going on these days.”

The program's co-ed league has also been growing in popularity in recent years.

Festa said the league runs from late August into October.

“That has been really successful,” Festa said. “Like with the over-40 league we change the rules a little - no sliding, no collisions -- that kind of thing. But everyone seems to really enjoy it.”

While numbers and teams may fluctuate from year to year, Festa is confident that softball will remain a fixture in Auburn.

“I think people know we are here,” Festa said. “It is just a matter of people having the time to play. But we'll always be here.”