Centertown softball celebrating 25th season
Centertown softball has always been about more than wins and losses.
As the league celebrates its 25th season this summer, nearly 330 youngsters are taking the field each week in one of Warren County's longest-running youth sports traditions. While champions will eventually be crowned in July, those involved with the league know the real success story is found in the generations of families who continue to make the ballfields a second home.
"It's about the kids."
That's the message Centertown Recreational League chairman and program coordinator Donnie Caldwell hears year after year from coaches who continue volunteering long after their own children have aged out of the league. Caldwell would know. He's been involved since the league's inception and has spent decades around youth sports in Warren County.
The family atmosphere remains one of the biggest reasons the league continues to thrive. Caldwell points out it isn't unusual to see three generations of players and coaches at the fields on any given night. Last season, he was able to share the dugout with both his children and grandchildren, creating memories that have become commonplace throughout the league's 25-year history.
Participation numbers continue to reflect that community support. Nearly every division has grown from a year ago, helping push enrollment over players this season. And that's before the ever-popular adult co-ed league gets rolling with six more squads Monday, June 1.
Rain has created some scheduling headaches, leaving the league approximately four nights behind schedule after Friday night's rainouts, but that hasn't slowed the excitement surrounding another busy summer in Centertown.
Several teams have already established themselves as early contenders.
In T-Ball, Douglas and Lanier Agency and Tremor Pulling Team remain unbeaten at 4-0, while Farm Credit sits close behind at 3-2. The Coach Pitch division has produced one of the league's most competitive races with DOS Marias Street Food leading the way at 4-1, followed closely by A1 Lawnmower Repair and Cherry Springs Nursery at 3-1.
US Barn Builders has emerged as the team to beat in Junior Girls, rolling to a perfect 6-0 start. Citizens Tri County Bank has matched that success in Junior Boys, opening the season 4-0 while Sparta Metal Processing remains in pursuit at 3-1.
Holder Realty has controlled the Senior Girls division with a 5-0 record, while Ben Lomand Connect has been equally dominant in Senior Boys, remaining unbeaten through five games.
Those contenders continued their strong starts Thursday night.
US Barn Builders stayed perfect with a 15-0 victory over Stowers Machinery in Junior Girls action, getting a big effort from Cybele Haston with an inside-the-park HR. Holder Realty improved to 5-0 by defeating Smith Crew Home Services 23-6 in senior girls play, highlighted by Kealey Simpson nearly putting one out on the biggest field at the park. Ben Lomand Connect also remained unbeaten in senior boys play with a 25-7 win over Douglas and Lanier Agency.
In Junior Boys, Crisp Springs Fireworks earned an 8-4 victory over Jones Landscaping and Services. DOS Marias Street Food strengthened its hold atop the Coach Pitch standings with a 17-7 win over Allgas, while Cherry Springs Nursery topped The Voice Box 22-5.
Farm Credit outlasted Express Motors 27-22 in a high-scoring T-Ball matchup.
The season still has plenty of softball left to play, but one date is already circled on the calendar.
As has become tradition, Centertown plans another major Independence Day celebration around July 4 featuring community recognition, special honors and fireworks. By then, regular season league champions will have been decided and another chapter added to a youth softball tradition that has connected Warren County families for a quarter century.
In Centertown, that's what keeps people coming back year after year - not just the games, but the generations of memories made between the foul lines.
