Two of the top five world softball teams are headed to Cypress in July, and they will play a team from a start-up league in Cypress that, after six seasons, is exploding in popularity and deciding what songs they will use to settle disputes when the season starts.
Yes, in this league, on close plays, umpires allow the girls to have a “dance-off,” among other things, to decide if the runner was safe or out.
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According to Lou Simon, who founded the league, the games around this college-aged softball league are similar to non-conventional, and perhaps better known, “banana ball,” but this is real softball, even though it is “a load of fun.”
Simon, a coach, organizer and motivator, said he got the idea for “The League” sitting in a hotel room watching the University of Oregon girl’s baseball team from a hotel room window.
“I got a call from a coach who told me that some of his college-aged players were depressed, since the pandemic limited their activities and that (then), there were no summer softball leagues for college girls.
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“Well, ‘The League’ is a summer league that I put together during the pandemic, where a lot of girls, and people in general, were going through a very difficult time,” he said.
Simon said he stumbled upon a group of student athletes bored during the pandemic. “It was really difficult on their mental state,” he said.
“So, I formed a summer league that would not only make the game (softball) challenging, but also make it fun,” said Simon.
“They’re making some great plays,” he laughs, “but they’re also doing some dancing, creating some trick plays, all within seven innings,” said Simon.
After five seasons, they have begun to draw a crowd to Arnold Cypress Park in the summertime. So much so that this year, there will be softball royalty on the field, as all-star teams from Japan and Mexico will be in town July 6 – 8, he said.
“It’s huge. These are two, top-five world-ranked teams, so it’s truly an amazing opportunity for the players and the community,” he said. Simon said the Japanese will pick their summer Olympics team from the National team that is coming here to play.
“The college-aged girls have a blast,” he said, while getting some good practice in over the summer.
Last year, Simon’s league drew 10, 14-member teams, and he expects at least as many this year, especially with the international teams coming in July.
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“We play by the same rules as the NCAA, so you’re allowed two challenges per team. If you win a challenge, then that does not count against you. You get that challenge back. So in other words, if there is a photo finish through first base and you thought someone was safe, but the umpire called out, you can challenge that play,” said Simon.
“And so that’s when you come out with a challenge, and both teams come out, and it’s a dance off,” he said. “We don’t have instant replay,” said Simon, “that’s way too expensive.”
On the dance-offs, the umpire “makes the call,” he said. Not only that, umpires eat ice cream during the game and when a teammate hits home run, the entire team has the right to run the bases with the slugger. Girls also often square off using the popular rock, paper, scissors, game to decide disputes.
Also, said Simon, the league’s scoring is a bit different as well.
“Well, we score it, we have a scoring system,” he said.
“They have a diving catch; they get a point. And to steal a base, they get a point. If they get caught stealing, the other team gets a point. If you rob a home run, you get two points,” said Simon, noting every major scoring achievement is rewarded with one to three points.
“Dancing counts,” he said, “but only to win the challenge.”
“It’s not banana ball, but people want to start associating it with banana ball. It’s just called the league. That’s the name of our league. It’s called the league, okay, but we don’t want to get a call from the banana ball league because we are not that, we’re just the league.
Simon said he doesn’t know much about “banana ball,” which he thinks is built more on an entertainment model. What his League plays is fun, for sure, he said, but make no mistake, these girls play serious NCAA softball.
“You’d be surprised at the quality of athletes we get,” said Simon. The league has drawn players from local schools, of course, said Simon, but also from Notre Dame, Oregon, Yale, Florida, Fullerton, and many other places.
“These are some of the best athletes in the U.S., said Simon, who marveled at the growing permanence of his made-up pandemic league.
“These girls are not out here rehearsing,” said Simon. “For the most part, they are coming out to play,” he added. It’s a format that keeps the game fun, but flowing, and, said Simon, “it is real softball.”
He said all games are played at Arnold Cypress park. The season begins June 20 and runs through July 25.
For more info on the League, visit www.gamereadyenterprises.com