Break out the big, yellow ball - girls' youth softball is coming to the diamond this spring to a couple of Jersey Shore Little League organizations that will be fielding their first-ever softball teams.
It's part of trend of softball growth for Little League. The organization says 1.7 million boys and girls participate in its baseball programs across the globe; softball has 300,000 players, a number that's 8 percent higher than in 2018.
While female athletes have made big strides in baseball including at the professional level of the Minor Leagues, softball is also making headlines: The 2024 Women’s College World Series Finals between Texas and Oklahoma drew 2 million viewers, making it the most-watched women's finals on record.
Eatontown Little League, which had been sending its young softball players off to play in Tinton Falls or to a recreation team run by the borough's Recreation Department, is putting together its first squads.
Brick Little League is the other local organization turning to softball.
"We have a lot of younger girls in our Tee Ball and Coach Pitch divisions. They're good, they're great. They've played up to the level of the boys," Eatontown Little League President Joe Fritsche said.
But after coach pitch, the girls either had to play baseball in the 9-12 age divisions or move on from the league. Fritsche said they've been bouncing the idea around to start up softball for a while and had approached the Recreation Department to take over the program. This year the department handed it to them.
"When it comes to softball, we're going to let the girls decide. If they want to continue to play baseball then by all means, play baseball. But if they want to switch over to softball, because when it comes to high school sports, a lot of girls are going to want to play softball at that level, then I'd really like to get them accustomed to it earlier," Fritsche said.
Fritsche's 10-year-old daughter Molly is one of the first players signed up. Now, comes the fun part of the picking team names and colors. Fritsche said they may chose names along the line of college teams, like the "Gators."
Ocean County joins the Little League softball expansion
The situation in Brick is similar. Officials there, too, had a ton of girls sign up for Tee Ball and Coach Pitch divisions, which go up to the age of 8. Then, almost all leave to play softball in other organizations.
Brick is assigned to Little League's Ocean County District 18 and its softball program will be a welcome addition - only two of the district's 10 organizations - Toms River and Holbrook (Jackson Township) - have been fielding teams in the annual All-Star 12U (12 year olds and under) tournament.
“We have seen a drop off in participation with girls when they go up to our Minors and Majors Divisions starting at 9,” Brick Little League President Steve Gogal said. “Now, with this new program the league will be able to give the girls the same Little League experience the boys get including the chance to raise All-Star tournament championship banners."
When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; [email protected].