Post by Jim Shortz.
The Blackburn Men’s Fastball League is looking for a few good men. About 25 of them, to be specific. And, as it turns out, you don’t have to be any kind of superstar to get involved.
The long-running local league for enthusiasts of a “friendly competitive” level of softball will hold a final registration night on April 4th from 7-9 PM at the Blackburn Arms Pub as part of its active search for new players to help maintain its eight-team roster for the 2016 season.
Contacts with the organization tell me that the league (BMFL for short), though named for the cozy hamlet where its games are played, is not at all limited to players from that part of town, at least not any more. In the earlier days of the league, I understand it was not uncommon for less scrupulous teams to have a ringer or two snuck in from across town, and so during its first seasons in the 80s and early 90s, stricter residency rules tended to be pretty standard in all neighbourhood leagues to limit crosstown trafficking in sluggers. These days, it appears the situation has mellowed; the BMFL counts residents from all corners of the city among its players. Clearly, it’s worth the drive.
The well-groomed Blackburn Arena diamond in Blackburn Hamlet plays host to BMFL games on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, with each team playing one or two games per week. As a time commitment, this league is all about game time; there are no scheduled practices to worry about here.
Photo courtesy of the BMFL.
Any guys keen to get involved also shouldn’t be too concerned about whether their last at-bat was ten months or ten years ago. A working knowledge of the rules and some capacity with the fundamentals game from any experience with organized baseball or softball is enough of a background to get you up and running. Well, that, and a pair of shoes and a glove.
If you’re also still trying to decipher the term “friendly competitive”, think of it the way you would approach a chili cook-off: everyone’s doing their best to win, and everyone’s pretty focused on having a good time.
The Blackburn Arms Pub is located at 2586 Innes Road (in the aforementioned Blackburn Hamlet). The registration event on April 4 will also give prospective players a chance to meet league organizers and ask questions in person. Many more details about the league, registration fees, and additional contact information can be found at the BMFL website.
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