Youth in Golden have a new sport to look forward to which will utilize the softball diamonds more.
Youth softball used to run in Golden, but player numbers dropped off and it was canceled. But, Mark Baxendale has enough interest from youth in the community to start the league again.
“Like a number of other sports, it’s all dropped off,” he said. “It’s something I’ve been keen to see happen.”
Baxendale is part of the youth hockey community in Golden. During a number of conversations with other hockey parents at the end of the hockey season, he heard that there was a bit of interest in having another summer sport for youth to participate in.
“There were a few people interested in getting it going,” he said. “They asked me to put some information out and put some feelers out.”
Now, there are nearly 80 kids signed up to play ball in the under 10 and older than 10 categories. Baxendale suspects the youth will take over the ball diamonds on Wednesday nights, when they typically aren’t being used by the adult softball league.
“We’re taking it in small steps at the moment. We just need to get a group up and running to start with, and then we will see what kids are interested in taking it further,” he explained about the potential of tournaments and competing against other towns. “This is all provisional, nothing is cast in stone yet.”
Baxendale hopes the league will be able to start at the beginning of May, and run through May and June.
“Some parents will be up there anyway, so why not bring your kids and get them going,” he said.
The sport will be covered under the Town of Golden’s insurance policy, much like other sports that take place for youth around town.
To join softball, youth must be registered online at www.goldensportforlife.com
