WILLIAMSBURG — The Williamsburg Senior Softball League (WSSL) is preparing for its 2022 season by offering indoor conditioning and training programs to new and current members.
WSSL is a slow-pitch recreational softball league that started in 2019. Membership in the league is open to both men, over 50 years old, and women, over 40 years old, within the Greater Williamsburg area.
“This will be our fourth year in the league. We started in 2019 with 35 guys,” said WSSL Director of Communications Dick Hoell. “Our commissioner and our Assistant Commissioner had played in a senior league softball together down in Wilmington North Carolina, and they both ended up moving to the Williamsburg area in 2019. So they wanted to sort of duplicate that experience, and so by word of mouth we got that first season going.”
The indoor conditioning and training program will take place at Williamsburg Indoor Sports Complex (WISC) on Warhill Sports Complex.
The training is preseason prep with a focus on specific softball skills, stretching exercises, and general practices to give some of the new members a chance to get ready for the upcoming season.
Since that first year, the league has grown to over 100 members and the WSSL Board of Directors hopes the league will be around 120 when the 2022 season begins.
WSSL’s 40 game season starts in April and runs through November. Throughout the season there will be two games played on both Tuesdays and Thursdays at the fields on Quarterpath Park. The first game of the day starts at 9 a.m., and then that’s followed by the second at 10:30 a.m.
“I think people that come out and generally have a good time. They enjoy the comradery of the people,” said Hoell. “That’s probably the big selling point. It’s just really a bunch of good men and women that are playing in this league. That’s been really positive to experience.”
Teams in the WSSL can consist of both men and women of all skill levels. Hoell says that about 11 percent of the current members are women who either played softball in the past or have decided to pick up a new recreational activity and learn to play.
WSSL also takes safety precautions for all members. This year the recreational league is taking injuries and safety very seriously.
“We really push stretching,” said Hoell. “A lot of our rules are also aimed at safety factors so we’re really trying to make sure people don’t get hurt. Many of us are 50 plus, and probably the majority of our players are 65 plus. So we’re just trying to be conscious of that.”
The league is currently open for registration. The membership fee is $75 for the entire 2022 season and that includes a uniform shirt and hat. More information on how to register for WSSL can be found on its website.
