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Date: 9/29/2021
WILBRAHAM – On a sunny day in mid-September, a dozen women took to Wilbraham’s Memorial Field, throwing hard foam softballs, and, mostly, catching them. The participants aren’t part of a Recreation Department program and many had never played before, but they all had one thing in common: a wish to spend time with other local women and have fun.
“I wanted to find something to do with other moms while the kids are at school,” said Deana Burzenski, a local stay-at-home mom. After discussing it with a couple of friends, she put the word out of a Facebook community forum. Within a day, 16 people had expressed interest in joining the Western MA Ladies’ Softball Club.
One reason the club has caught on is that people can bring their children with them. The women look out for one another’s toddlers and check on the babies in their strollers between turns batting.
Originally, the idea was to encourage stay-at-home mothers to join, but she said it quickly grew to include grandmothers and people who don’t have children. There is no age or skill level criteria. Burzenski said the only requirement to join is being a woman.
Roughly a dozen women have come out for each practice. Kristyn Sheehan is one of those women, and their de facto coach.
“I coach my daughter’s team and played all through college,” she said, so it was a natural fit that she would take the lead. She said the women all have different levels of experience and five or six never played before. She praised them for picking up the basics quickly.
Burzenski said they want to eventually have a full team of 18 players so they can play nine-on-nine or against another local team.
Because the group is not organized by the town or any official entity, players must bring their own equipment. “Dig out your old glove, borrow your husband’s,” Burzenski said. She had to buy a new glove, as the one she had from her teen years wasn’t salvageable. “You can get a glove at Target or Walmart for $20, more at Dick’s [Sporting Goods.] You can pick up a bat for pretty cheap.”
The hour-long practices are twice a week at Memorial Field on Main Street. While Burzenski said the group is aiming for Tuesdays and Thursdays, the schedule is flexible based on when most participants can make it. The idea is to practice and scrimmage with one another until the weather turns too cold, likely in November, and then pick it up again in the spring.
For more information on the Western MA Ladies’ Softball Club, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/ladiesoftball. Those interested in joining can message Burzenski on Facebook for the practice dates and times.