Who here plays recreational softball

[SonicVanguard]

Well it's been a number of years, but I decided to join my church's softball team this year. We play in a city league and they use ASA (Amateur Softball Assoc.) rules. Come to find out, bats are now 'certified' to play. I know it's been a while (5 years), but has technology come to that? I don't mind spending the money on a decent bat, (just ordered one for $200) but I've been reading about the outlawed bats - all I can say is OMG! These bats make nobodies into somebodies. And there are guys on-line that will take one of these juiced bats, juice it up even more - even change the graphics to 'disguise it' to look like on of that companies legal bats. And bats are no longer aluminum - there are composite alloys, double and triple shelled bats, titanium bats....I'm astonished.

Just needed to vent for a bit.

Dave.

[TwoRails]

Ya, that is getting totally ridiculous! I haven't played in many, many years, but when I did, it was just a group of friends going out each weekend to have a BBQ, a few cold ones, and have some fun playing ball, volley ball, and the like.

Some people at work play, but I declined as they are Way to serious for me! No fun being too serious IMHO. They are all wantta-bees and shoulda-beens.... I just want to have fun :)

TwoRails

[PMich]

You mean those triple shelled bats with alternating inert gas charges between layers that I could build a new PC for the same price? The only way to have fun these days is in a coed recreational 16" league. Only people who are looking to have a good time will play in those.

[SonicVanguard]

See...I thought about co-rec. But...I do love competition. And ASA co-rec rules are goofy. Girls hit the green dot ball, men hit the blue dot, no sliding into a base covered by a women, extended firstbase, start with a 1 & 1 count...crazy rules like that take the fun out as well.

Well see how this season goes. They did include one interesting local rule to stop some of the neandertals in the league - each team is only allowed 3 out of the park homeruns. After that, any ball that leaves the field over the fence is an out. So it should cause more line drives and bring a true rover position back into play - a position I've enjoyed playing in the past. I don't like to play 4 outfielders, but playing rover can be fun.

Dave.

[PMich]

Our park district offers A,B, and C leagues that correspond to the level of competition. A league is for the super serious guys, B league is for the competitive but not crazy guys and C is for the recreational. You may want to check and see if there are multiple leagues/levels around you.

[SonicVanguard]

Originally posted by PMich
Our park district offers A,B, and C leagues that correspond to the level of competition. A league is for the super serious guys, B league is for the competitive but not crazy guys and C is for the recreational. You may want to check and see if there are multiple leagues/levels around you.
I think there are - but this league is in a suburb of Grand Rapids where our church is located. The idea is that we are apart of this community. In Grand Rapids they have a league structure like you've described. But this league is highly competitive. It will be fun anyway.

Dave.

[TpGun2424]

U know that nobody still has to be able to hit the ball. It's also getting to be the same in baseball. But the bat still doesn't make the player, it just helps