Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.  It wouldn’t feel like summer, if there were no cracks of the bat on a ball, no umpire growling, “stee-rike!” The smell of fresh mowed outfield grass, the cheers and groans from the crowd, the glow of a sunset against the sleeping giant.

Summer means the Gilpin County Adult Co-ed Softball League begins with all of its friendly banter and good natured drama.

This year the league is small, only four teams, but that means more game time for those who take the competition seriously. With only four teams, the schedule will include more double headers.

The Gilbillies, a hybrid team out of Rollinsville; the A-CERS, last year’s champions and long-time competitors; Eldora, newer to the competition but prepared to show their muscle and the Blue Sox, who had a great start last year will take the field against each other and sometimes with each other.

Coed rules state that at least three females are required for a team to play and sometimes there is a bit of scrambling to find the third player.

After the first week of play, the standings are 1. Blue Sox; 2. Gillbillies; 3. A-CERS and 4. Eldora.

The Blue Sox are undefeated going into the second week.

(Originally published in the June 14, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)