HOW TO JOIN A SOFTBALL LEAGUE IN ORANGE COUNTY
Last call to sign up for the fall season of softball leagues in some cities in Orange County: Fields are already reserved, and teams are playing in the majority of cities.
In Santa Ana, the team must be registered with the city. Only men’s and co-ed leagues are offered. (Co-ed teams require five men and five women players.) The level of play must be specified (A, B, C or D with A the most proficient) as must the type of game: men’s or co-ed fast or slow pitch. The application must specify preferences for playing field, day and time (first through sixth choices). The name of the team and the names and addresses of the players must be provided. The fast-pitch league requires nine players on a team; the slow-pitch league requires 10. In the last few years in Santa Ana, the number of softball teams per season has averaged more than 600 (there are four seasons), according to Randy Hoopii, recreation program coordinator.
In the city of La Habra, teams must fill out a registration form and pay a fee to join the men’s or co-ed leagues. In the two remaining days of registration, the community services department will take applications as long as slots are available.
In San Juan Capistrano, sign-ups are taking place right now and will continue through tomorrow. Only men’s softball is offered for the fall season; co-ed teams begin in the summer.
The softball league in Laguna Beach accepts only locals. Players must live within the Laguna Beach Unified School District boundaries or have proof of employment within the city limits. There are men’s and women’s leagues but no co-ed league. Prices and leagues are designated by the circumference of the softball used, 12- or 16-inch.
A point system is utilized in cities such as Orange and Santa Ana to determine registration priority. Points are awarded to teams with members who are residents. In Santa Ana one point is also awarded to a team that played during the previous season or to a team from a workplace located in the city. If too many teams sign up and some must be eliminated, teams with the most points get top priority. The system also encourages teams to seek out their neighbors to fill their rosters. Non-residents are not excluded, but they get no points.
In Seal Beach, points are awarded only to teams that have played previously in the league.
In Mission Viejo, leagues (organized by the Saddleback Valley Recreation Services) are nearly full, but an independent softball league still has space in its men’s C and D leagues, which play on Sunday nights.
The deadline has passed for leagues in Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Placentia, Tustin, Westminster, Yorba Linda, and leagues are already in play. Dana Point is connected with Capistrano Bay Parks and Recreation. The city of Brea will not have a league until the spring. None exists in Villa Park.
Here are the costs and other information about leagues still open this fall:
LAGUNA BEACH * Cost: $436, men’s 12-inch; $308, men’s 16-inch; $286, women’s 12-inch * Deadline: Tomorrow for men’s 12-inch; Sept. 21 for men’s 16-inch and women’s 12-inch * Information: (714) 497-0716, Ron Lutz
LAGUNA NIGUEL (YMCA) * Cost: $35 non-member, $30 members; full team $360 to $420 (12 players required) * League options: men’s and co-ed, slow pitch (with 12-foot pitch arc) * Sign-ups: Tomorrow, 5 p.m. * Information: (714) 831-YMCA, Derek or Eric
LA HABRA * Cost: $320 * League options: men’s and co-ed, slow pitch * Deadline: Tomorrow * Information: (213) 905-9708
MISSION VIEJO * Cost: $425 * League options: men’s (C and D levels), slow pitch * Information: (714) 552-8315, Ron Byrd
ORANGE * Cost: $300 * League options: men’s and co-ed, slow pitch * Times: Monday-Friday games begin at 6:30 p.m.; Sundays at noon * Deadline: Sept. 15 * Information: (714) 532-0383
SANTA ANA * Cost: $440 fast pitch; $330 slow pitch * League options: men’s and co-ed, fast pitch or slow pitch * Season: Sept. 24-Dec. 14. Makeup games will be moved to the following week in the event of rain-outs. * Times: Monday-Friday nights; Sunday day * Deadline: Tomorrow * Information: (714) 571-4225
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO *31421 La Matanza * Cost: $385 * League options: men’s, slow pitch * Times: Tuesday only , 6 p.m.; 7:15 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. * Season: Sept. 25-November 27 * Deadline: Tomorrow * Information: (714) 493-5911
SEAL BEACH * Cost: $150 * League options: men’s or co-ed, slow pitch * Deadline: Tomorrow * Information: (213) 431-2527, Kirk Zuniga
STANTON * Cost: $366 * League options: men’s, women’s and co-ed; slow pitch * Times: Sunday-Friday evenings * Registration: Sept. 18-Sept. 27 * Information: (714) 220-2220, Ext. 275
HUNTINGTON BEACH Although the deadline for leagues offered by Huntington Beach (men’s, women’s and co-ed) has already passed for the fall season, the Recreation Department is willing to take the names of individuals who would like to sign up on the “interest list” should teams need players.
* Information: (714) 536-5486