Softball’s history originates back to Thanksgiving Day 1887 when several alumni attended the Farragut Boat Club, anxiously awaiting the results of the Yale versus Harvard football, not baseball, game. When Yale was announced as the winner, a Yale alumnus threw a boxing glove at a Harvard fan.

The Harvard fan swung at the balled-up glove with a stick, and the rest of the group looked on with interest. George Hancock, a reporter for the Chicago Board of Trade, jokingly called out, “Play ball!” and the first softball game began with the football fans using the boxing glove as a ball and a broom handle in place of a bat.

Due to the initial excitement surrounding the game, the Farragut Boat Club decided to officially devise a set of rules, and the game quickly leaked to outsiders in Chicago and, eventually, throughout the rest of the Midwestern U.S.

As the history of softball shaped itself over the years, the game went under the guise of “indoor baseball,” “kitten baseball,” “diamond ball,” “mush ball,” and “pumpkin ball.” In 1926, Walter Hakanson coined the term “softball” while representing the YMCA at a National Recreation Congress meeting, and by 1930, the term was known as the sport’s official moniker.

The softball season typically begins in early June and ends mid-August. This year the season for Gilpin County’s Parks and Recreation Coed Softball League culminated with the Championship Tournament on Saturday, August 12.

Each team has at least ten players, with ten each on the field and as many as two extra hitters in the batting lineup.

The tournament was double-elimination with five teams competing over the course of a day.

John Cook has played softball for 35 years total and for about 15 years in Gilpin. He currently plays for the Gilbillies team, owned by Hillary Kysar. The teams meet for practice Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Softball is a great way to get out and meet new people, like Chris Bohan did many years ago when he was introduced to his future wife, Laura, in 2011. The Coed Adult Softball League is just one of the recreational opportunities that Gilpin County offers and is a fun, wholesome way to socialize outdoors with your peers.

Bohan reported that before Covid-19, the league had 11 or 12 teams and in years past as many as 25. Then the past couple of years there have only been three teams.

“You don’t have to know how to play to come here. It’s definitely a good place to be and probably the most fun league I have played in,” shined Bohan as he looked into the distance at the mountainous views.

No doubt the location at Pete Gones Memorial Park at 659 Highway 46 plays some part in the experience. Bohan’s father came all the way from Texas to spectate this year’s Championship.

Neil Sullivan has played softball for seven years and plays for Eldora Ski Resort. Eldora happens to have two teams, the Eldora Senderz and the Eldora Snowballers.

The Gilbillies have had the most wins prior to the tournament with seven and only one loss; the Eldora Senderz have six wins, Elks Lodge with five, the Unknown have two, and the Eldora Snowballers with nil.

The tournament progressed with the Gilbillies undefeated and eventually the mercy rule was invoked because of their overwhelming lead. The Gilbillies were declared winners of the tournament and awarded this season’s trophy.

Cook was hit by a player during the tournament and unfortunately suffered a broken leg. His teammates and family rushed him to the nearest hospital where he was given medical attention and put in a cast. But that couldn’t stop him from returning for the victory photo.

Interested softball players should inquire about next year’s season through the Gilpin County Parks and Recreation website at Gilpin County Parks and Recreation | Playpass