For the first time ever in the history of Hawthorne Little League, it now has a girls softball program.
The Little League board has been trying to create a softball division for years, but covid threw a wrench in its formation. Therefore, the girls have always had to play baseball.
However, following the pandemic and revitalization of the club, organizers were able to create one Junior softball team last year (for girls ages 11-14) and add a Minor division this year for girls ages 7-10. The junior softball players travel within the district all over rural Nevada to play against other teams, and recently played against Fernley last weekend on Hawthorne High School’s softball field home turf.
There are two teams within the minor softball league that play every week against each other (Hawthorne Gold and Hawthorne Black- named after serpent colors). Opening Day was April 1, and the League continues through the first week of June. Little League games are held every Wednesday night at the high school. The boys’ baseball and girls’ softball divisions alternate between 5:30pm and 7 p.m. start times.
“It’s exciting for our girls to be able to play softball, especially since now is the time that they are prepping for high school,” says Hawthorne Little League Vice President Shasta Garrison.
When the Little League was struggling to stay afloat back in fall of 2021, the community banded together to keep it going. Former president Sarah Dillard said that Little League helps middle schoolers develop important skills, prepare them for high school baseball, and it was personally a great social outlet for her family. The Hawthorne Little League has been around for decades, and fortunately has a full board of directors and volunteers in its 2023 season.
This Saturday, May 13, the Junior softball team will be playing Battle Mountain at 1 p.m. and Carlin at 3 p.m. in Battle Mountain. To see its weekly game schedules, visit https://www.facebook.com/hawthornelittleleague.
