The fun never ends with this Houston area senior softball league
HOUSTON — In 1981 five men got together to form the Harris County Senior Softball League or HCSSL. The mission was to promote Slow Pitch Softball in the greater Houston area for senior men and women aged 50 and up. League games are played four nights a week Monday thru Thursday at Bayland Park off Bissonnet.
Since then, the league has grown to 24 teams with approximately 320 players (men and women). We have six teams in each division. United is the top division, followed by American, Continental, and last is the National Division.
In Spring at the beginning of March we have Saturday morning tryouts to join the league. “We have tryouts in March but it’s not too late! You can join us in April and May for the summer league!”
We are very inclusive because exercise and fun is for seniors too!
Later that month we have a draft of players chosen by the managers of each team. Summer League plays from late March until October. At the end of the summer season there is a tournament.
Softball is a game similar to baseball that is played with a larger ball. The rules vary somewhat with the ball being pitched underhand and slow pitch softball being the most common form. The game also moves faster than traditional baseball with the games lasting up to 7 innings or a little over 1 hour depending on the league.
HCSSL play is competitive and we place an emphasis on good sportsmanship, clean language, safety, fellowship, and exercise. We have rules to protect base runners and infielders from serious injury. An umpire and a field judge conduct play, call outs, and generally administer fair play.
Those of us who play definitely value the strenuous running, batting, real competition, softball skills and lasting friendships. Suspension for bad language or ill behavior is rare and is enforced by the umpire who has the final word. The play can become intense at times but fun, with self-evaluation and camaraderie superseding which teams win. We always line up to congratulate the winners at game’s end!
HCSSL is a great outlet for men and women over 50 who enjoy team sports in Houston and the surrounding cities. Check us out at www.hcssl.org where you can find a calendar and videos of past games. “The fun never ends”.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.
