On Friday 8th September 2000, at about 10:00pm a slightly drunken woman, who I barely knew but played softball with, pinched my ample backside in a bar in America. Why should I bother telling you this. Well that drunken bottom pincher is now my wife and mother of my little boy Oliver and I have Softball plus a bit of luck to thank. Social Softball I am 32 and will play just about any sport there is, I had only ever played two games of softball before and I enjoyed it a lot. Its a social, friendly, co-ed (both sexes) sport played either at a park, a stadium or indoors and did not have the strong competition element of many other games I played.  | | Softball game |
Back in the summer of 2000 I was very luckily invited to America to play for the London Tigers softball team. It was cheap, brilliant, exciting and one of the best trips ever, which leads me to the life changing pinch. On the final night of the tournament, we all went out for a drink in a bar. Without warning and to my surprise I was pinched by one of the girls on the Tigers ladies. She must have had her beer contact lenses in, and therefore found me not too bad looking and happily for me, 5 years on, we are happily married and lucky to be the parents of Oliver who is 16 months old. Very excited, I started my own team and joined the West Midlands league in 2002. In 2004 I somehow became chairman of the West Midlands Softball League. This involves:- - Recruiting new players and teams
- Running Introduction Sessions
- Talking and approaching sponsors
- Running coaching sessions
- ...and now and again finding time to play the game too.
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What is Softball?  | | Softball bats |
Softball is one Britain's fastest growing mixed team sports, where women and men compete with and against each other on an equal basis. It is a social version of Baseball but if that means nothing to you then it might help to know it comes from the same sporting family as Rounders. Softball is a summer sport and the new season starts at the around April/May. The social side of the sport plays a big part for a lot of players and teams, with the emphasis definitely on having a good time both on and off the pitch! To play, you only need a ball, a bat, a glove and some space. How can I get involved? You can contact myself at [email protected] or visit our website. Outdoor Softball is played from May to September (weather permitting) at 3 Parks around Birmingham. It costs nothing per person to play, but if you join a team – that could cost up £100 a season to join the league. You need no equipment – most teams provide you with gloves, bats and balls so please contact us. Games are played at 6:30pm on Tuesday or Thursday Evenings. See you there. | 
