Bringing People Together Primary Goal of Heights Church Softball League

Editor's Note: This is the third in a series of articles about the Heights Church Softball League. Read the and articles of the series, and check out the fourth and last article Wednesday. 

team #1 is the four-time defending champion of the Heights Church Softball League, and team manager Daryl Musick has been involved in some epic battles during that run.

But when the next season starts, he said most people forget which team won the championship.

“The success of the league is it helps the church to bond,” Musick said. “There is a church that’s new to the league that has a picnic (after some games). They don’t win hardly any games, they’re just having a great time with it.”

That church is , which entered its third year in the Heights Church Softball League having only won a handful of games, none in 2009. This year, however, the team has won four going into the last two weeks of the season.

“Our biggest weakness is we don’t have a superstar player like some of these other churches do,” said Fred Robertson, manager of the Central Bible Baptist team. “For a church league, there are some very good players. I’ve seen some of these guys in other leagues.”

As a former college athlete, Robertson loves the competition and teaching people the game. He and the team begin practicing in March, hitting the cages and teaching players the concepts of the game. During the first year there were a lot of players who didn’t grasp the basics, but like their win total that has also improved.

“We had guys who didn’t run the bases correctly,” Robertson said. “So we’d rent Euclid Sports Plant on a Saturday afternoon and go over scenarios, like how having a runner on first base could lead to a double play. One guy asked what a double play was so we showed them.”

Despite its record, the church still draws 15 to 40 fans a game, and they are not shy about cheering on their team.

“The fans are really into it,” Robertson said. “They’re very loud. They’re probably the most outspoken crowd out there, but we keep it all within the context of being a Christian.”

Teams around the league notice when the fans come out to support Central Bible.

“Other teams don’t do as well, but the enthusiasm is there,” said Brendan Pham, manager of . “Some of the teams who just joined aren’t that strong yet, but I’m sure their guys just want to get out and hit.”

Central Bible doesn’t have to win the upcoming tournament to prove they belong in the league. Whether they pull off an upset for the championship or lose in the first round, the league will welcome them back in 2012.

“It’s more about everyone getting together than the actual competition in the league,” said Tom McNamara, who plays on Forest Hill team #2. “Nobody is trying to get teams kicked out of the league (based on competitiveness). As long as everyone shows up and we’re having fun, we help each other out.”

The Heights Church Softball League continues the end-of-the-year playoffs this Sunday, Aug. 7, at Forest Hill Park. Five remaining teams battle it out for the shot at the 2011 championship. The first two sessions at 3 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. determine who from the consolation bracket advances to the championship with the title game following at 5:30 p.m. A fourth and decisive session is scheduled at 6:45 p.m., if necessary.

Chris Sweeney is a member of The Church of the Saviour and is currently in his sixth year of playing in the Heights Church Softball League.