Memories made at Midway
You definitely know if you’re rolling down Francis Ferry Road or Hennessee Bridge Road if the Midway games are running on time. When traffic is heavy at the top of the hour, everything is flowing through like clockwork.
But even on the nights when things go haywire or an exciting game needs extra innings to finish, people will stay until the job is done. That’s what the Midway softball league means to the community. It’s a beacon of light - quite literally - and a shining example of what generations of families can accomplish if they keep making serving the youth a priority.
The Midway leagues have been ongoing for nearly five decades and for almost all of them, there’s been a Bell leading the way. Nowadays, Terry and Becky Bell put in a lot of the work, but their son Tyler has taken over the role of president of the community center.
Working hand-in-hand with a standout athletic committee featuring Phyllis Boren, Jeff Tittsworth, Kevin Dunlap, Mary Roller, Angie Carter and Brandon Fuston, the Bells have accomplished a mission that the family set out many years ago to do: provide a league for kids that would make the Midway community proud.
“We just want to give these kids somewhere to come and play and make memories,” said Becky Bell, who - like her husband Terry, has since served as an umpire, coach, maintenance worker, scorekeeper and any other role needed to keep the league going. “There are a lot of volunteer hours put into this place, but if it keeps even one kid out of trouble, it’s worth it.”
All the Bells will wear whatever hat needs to be filled on any given night, particularly when it comes to churning out food from a concession stand that has been making mouths water for decades.
“It takes everybody. Each team takes the concession stand throughout the season and I’m there helping too. I’ll jump in there and help them - it’s what you’re supposed to do,” said Becky Bell, a mainstay at the fields since marrying Terry in 1989.
And while the workers can change night to night, the consistency of the menu doesn’t. Midway burgers remain a local delicacy, while French fries, chicken strips and corn dogs still fly out the window every evening.
“We still have the burgers,” laughed Becky. “And we added a grilled chicken sandwich too for people trying to eat good.”
As for dessert, kids flock to the side window by the dozens to get an ice cream cone before and after games. Sometimes, they’ll even make a mid-game trip if they can get away with it.
Midway has shown tremendous staying power over the years, attracting several generations of families to the ballpark every summer. This season, the numbers jumped again. A total of 492 kids signed up to play in leagues ranging from 2-3 year old co-ed T-ball all the way to senior divisions for boys and girls ages 14-18.
The leagues include divisions for 2-3 co-ed, 4-5 co-ed, 6-7 co-ed and 8-10 co-ed before splitting into junior and senior boys and girls leagues. Midway officials said participation numbers were boosted this year by players from surrounding counties joining the action too.
Games started April 27 and are scheduled to continue through the Fourth of July, one of the biggest celebration days in the Midway community each year. As long as rainouts don’t create too much chaos, tournaments will begin shortly afterward and champions will be crowned throughout July - where bragging rights can last a lifetime in a small community.
Tuesday night offered another glimpse into how competitive the leagues can be. Precision Auto Machine continued its reign as one of the top programs in the girls senior division with a run-rule victory in five innings, while Fuston’s Nursery stunned the previously unbeaten Dugout Divas 22-2 in three innings to set up a major showdown near the top of the standings.
Fans of all ages are encouraged to come out on weekday nights - except Wednesdays - to catch the action. And if anybody needs help finding the park, just look for those bright lights rising into the sky off Great Falls Road.
If you see them, you know you’re getting close to the Mecca of Midway - the hallowed softball fields.
