by Matilda K

FBSGA (Fort Bragg Girls Softball Association) makes sure a softball season happens every year. This year, there are five minors teams (ages 7-10) and three juniors teams (ages 10-13). There is one sponsor per team, who pays for the gear and uniforms. This year, in juniors, the teams are named after their sponsors. The teams are: Orca Towing, Princess Seafood, and Lee’s Chinese. 

Photo credit: FBGSA website

This season consists of two practices a week, and later in the season there is often one to five games per week. The juniors teams play against each other, as well as Point Arena, Willits, Eagle Peak, and the Fort Bragg Middle School. Many of the players agree that these games are often highly competitive and fun. However, some say that because of our average skill level, the game revolves too much around the pitcher being able to pitch strikes and the catcher actually being able to catch them. As a pitcher, I have experienced this, but as long as theres a good catcher, its not a problem. A player on Lee’s Chinese, Violet P, said, “ …In the league, the whole game can revolve around the pitcher and catcher. If the pitcher isn’t doing well and isn’t subbed out, the game can be really boring.” 

As of April 24th, 2025, there is just over a month left of the softball season. Some players are excited about this, but others are not. Because of when it takes place, softball season is at the same time as club volleyball and soccer. This results in a lot of players having to miss practices and games. I know that some teams have had to cancel games because they don’t have enough players. In Orca Towing’s game against Willits last saturday, Orca only had eight people, resulting in us only having two outfielders. Orca lost that game 11-6. The day before, Orca played against Willits in Fort Bragg, and lost by twenty one. It shows how much having a slightly different group of players can affect the game. 

Photo credit: FBGSA website

The weekend of the 26th, the juniors teams had a tournament against each other, Willits, Eagle Peak, and Point Arena. Willits came first with Princess Seafood as a close second. As a player on Orca Towing, I thought that Princess Seafood was going to win by a lot. I played against Willits and we only lost by four points. Despite this shocking outcome, the tournament was really fun because all the players were at the field more or less all day. There were around five games over the weekend total. All in all, the softball season is almost always the highlight of every player’s year and I can’t wait to see what it looks like next year!