Paris U13 Girls Softball team falls to Copetown in hot showdown

Reagan Deane delivers a pitch during the third inning of the U13 Girls Softball game against Copetown on June 30. 

George Le Gresley

Paris Independent Sports Correspondent

Softball, compared to baseball, is a relatively new game, developed in the late 1880’s. Believe it or not, softball was first played indoors, with a broomstick and a boxing glove tied up to look like a ball. The biggest advantage that drove softball to outdoor parks was that softball's field dimensions were much smaller than baseball's.

It had been a long time since I’d been to the Pete Lavoie fields to watch a game of softball. I had moved to Paris about 25 years ago and coached a boys' softball team at a facility that then included a wooden announcer’s booth that also served as a snack bar. Today, it is a very modern facility with a snack bar, washrooms, and two fields. The other big addition was a batting cage. Very impressive!

Last Tuesday, I was invited to watch the 5-4 Paris Girls U13 Softball team take on visitors from Copetown. Riding a three-game losing streak, these young ladies were hoping to end the streak with a win and a very short bench.

It was a very hot evening, with a steady breeze blowing dust from a very dry infield into the visitors' bench. # 6 Kaylee came to the mound to start the game and had a very impressive start, striking out two Copetowners and, with a hit to her defense, throwing out the runner at first base. So far, we have had a perfect no-hitter game! In the bottom half of the first inning, the Paris side scored two runs on a combination of walks and misplays and a hit and a stolen base at home by #5 Alissa.At the bottom of the second inning, things started to unravel, with too many hitters being walked and Copetown scoring the maximum number of 5 runs. In the end, it was a very hot afternoon to take a 13-6 loss. I was impressed by the encouragement the players gave each other, the coaching, and the team's level of sportsmanship.