Barbara Lawlor, Gilpin County. As published in print June 23, 2016. This could be the year for the Acers.

One of the longest lasting teams in the Gilpin County Recreation Center Co-ed Softball League, the Acers have been steadily moving up the standings ladder.

They came close last year, going back and forth in first place but then slipped to third in the league standings at the end of the season and then came in third in the Tonya Putnam Championship. The Acers, the Players, the Rockies and the Champs all played competitively, but the Rockies were first at the end of the season and the Champs reclaimed the Tonya Putnam Memorial Tournament trophy.

So far this year, the Acers are out front, unbeaten, with six wins. Their team members are regular players, their shirts are one year new and they are hitting like machines. Last Thursday, they beat the Blue Sox 19-9 and the game was stopped in the fifth inning. Making all those runs eat up the one hour allotted time.

Standings at the end of Thursday, June 16, 2016 are:

Acers, 6-0; Champs, 4-2; Players, 3-3; Misfits, 3-4; Blue Sox, 2-4 and Mean Machine, 0-5.

In the first three weeks of scheduled games, one evening each week was lost to thunderstorms rolling over the ball field. The teams play on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Orrin Snyder, director of the softball league, says there are notable changes this year. The teams now must have five men and five women on the roster and on the field. The batting order will require alternating genders. Snyder says these rules are new to the Gilpin league but that other softball leagues have been playing by them for decades.

“It does place a burden on the managers to recruit more women players, and I’m pleased to say they did.”

Also no more substitutions are allowed. If the team doesn’t have the right amount of players, they have to forfeit the game.

Another change is that there is only one umpire. Players’ pitcher Randy Baratta says that he now has to hit in the mat zone; that is, the pitch has to drop down onto the mat. If it hits the mat, it is a strike, no matter what.

“This is good for the pitcher,” says Randy. “We have to keep the balls low, but it is still fun.”

Next week’s games will be: Tuesday, at 6 p.m. the Players against the Blue Sox and at 7 p.m. the Misfits against the Champs. On Wednesday, June 29, at 6 p.m., the Champs against the Misfits and at 7 p.m. the Acers against the Players. On Thursday, June 30, at 6 p.m., the Champs against the Acers and at 7 p.m., the Blue Sox against the Misfits.