Montgomery County Fastpitch League

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First time coverage

The following story is from the Journal Review newspaper.
Last Updated: 6/26/200 8:40:00 AM 8:40:00 AM

Wednesday, June 25, 2003
Softball league moving right along
By Matt Wilson
mwilson@jrpress.com
What started as a hopeful feeder system for high school softball teams has turned into a growing league for 14-and-under girl athletes in Montgomery County.

Several attempts have been made to start an area fastpitch softball league, but for various reasons the organizations never hit full stride and finally disbanded. Three years ago, Crawfordsville residents Mike and Andie French decided they would again try to restart the league so daughter Marissa could play fastpitch without having to join a travel team.

With the league in its second year as an established organization, an increase in participation has Mike French hoping youth fastpitch softball will be here to stay. After having 139 participants last year, the softball numbers have grown to 179 this year.

With leagues divided into 14-and-under, 12-and-under and 10-and-under, a combined 14 teams — 12 from Montgomery County and two from Putnam County — are in the leagues that run nightly at various sites.

High school coaches have even become involved in the leagues. Crawfordsville High School head coach Brian Norris is coaching a 14-and-under team while North Montgomery High School head coach Josh Thompson is helping with the 14-and-under Charger team. Southmont High School head coach John Toland is also helping organize the league on the south end of the county.

“I expect it to just get bigger next year,” Mike French said. “I think this league is here to stay. People have tried to start a fastpitch league before but it has not been able to last.”

French said word of mouth has got more athletes and fans out to the softball diamond. A loyal group of parents filled the CHS home and visitor stands to watch Crawfordsville battle Waveland Tuesday night.

“I think we are getting more dedicated people and more dedicated parents,” said French, who is the league’s president while Andie is the vice president. “I think parents are starting to see that if they want their daughters to play in high school and be good, then they have to get into fastpitch now. Fastpitch softball is also another opportunity for girls to get a college scholarship.”

Some players would be intimidated standing in the batter’s box seeing a fastball coming right at them. But 12-year-old Laken Joyce, a member of Crawfordsville’s team who is a three-year league veteran, refuses to be intimidated by the faster style of pitching.

“I like fastpitch because I think you can hit the ball easier,” said Joyce, whose favorite part of softball is getting people out. “I was not very good hitting my first year because a lot of people on the other teams were older than I was.”

The regular season for fastpitch is winding down and the league tournaments are quickly approaching. The 12-and-under tournament will be Monday and Tuesday, while the 10-and-under tourney will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The 14-and-under league tournament is July 11 and 12.

“The girls just seem to like the faster pace of this league,” Mike French said. “They also get in different situations where they would have to use different strategies like bunting and leadoffs.”



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