| EMASS
SENIOR SOFTBALL |
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| "Slow-pitch softball in
an organized, competitive and safe
environment." |
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EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
SENIOR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION
NEWS RELEASE February
21, 2006
The Eastern Massachusetts Senior Softball Association ("EMASS") will
open its twelfth season in April. This is the largest senior softball program
in greater Boston, the second largest in New England, and is open to players
age 55 and over.
In 2006 there will be about 300 players, organized into three divisions – American
(most competitive, games on Saturday mornings), National (games on Saturday mornings)
and Atlantic (games on Tuesday mornings). Saturday games are at fields throughout
the greater Boston area. Last season fields were used in Wayland, Framingham,
Newton, Cambridge, Canton, Peabody and Tewksbury. Tuesday games have been in
Wayland and this year some will probably be in Newton. Players can play in a
Saturday division plus the Atlantic division, just a Saturday division or just
the Atlantic division.
Each team will play a schedule of 20-30 games starting in late April and ending
in late August. (Usually two seven inning games are played.) For those who want
to play even more, there is an assortment of tournaments and other games both
during the regular season and in the fall.
Senior softball has been growing steadily for the past decade. It has long been
extremely popular in retirement areas, as Cape Cod, Florida and Arizona, and
is becoming more appealing for younger players all over the country, those in
their fifties who still love the game but who have slowed a step or two and prefer
to compete with people their own age.
Many EMASS players have been active in competitive softball leagues for a long
time, while others have returned to the game after "retiring" a number
of years ago. Although the competition is serious, particularly in the two Saturday
divisions, the essential goal of the whole program is for all players to enjoy
the experience, which is one reason for the creation of three distinct divisions.
Players come from 100 communities all over eastern Massachusetts (and a few from
New Hampshire), from Hingham in the south to Salem and Tewksbury in the north,
Groton and Marlboro to the west and just about every city and town in-between.
The games are played according to national senior softball rules. A pitch must
have a minimum 6' arc and strikes must hit either the plate or a one foot extension
behind the plate. There are 11 players in the field, and all players on a team
(usually 12-14) are in the batting order. Games are seven innings, with a 12
run mercy rule after 4 + 1/2 innings.
EMASS Senior Softball is administered by a commissioner, a board of directors
and the managers of the teams. The 2006 fees for the American and National divisions
were $95 and for the Atlantic division $50. These 2006 fees, which cover the
costs of equipment, uniforms, umpires (for Saturday divisions) and rental of
fields, will be approximately the same.
Every attempt is made to balance the teams in each division. Thus new players
will be assigned to teams according to ability, positions to be played and, for
the American and National divisions, openings on teams with home fields close
to where they live. Pre-season practices and evaluation sessions are held in
early April and the games start the last week in April. There are tryouts only
for American division teams. Everyone who wants to play will be assigned to a
team in National or Atlantic divisions.
For further information contact »John
Stewart at 617 969-0950 or consult our website: www.emass-seniorsoftball.com
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