Well, it’s just about that time again! Happy Holidays and a healthy and prosperous New Year to everyone. It's still hard to believe but, in this past season, Amherst Girls Softball League celebrated the 10th anniversary of it’s official opening of the first ever, girls only, softball complex at the Audobon Recreation Center. Prior to that time, as many of you know and remember, our league was the only youth baseball or softball league in the town of Amherst without home fields. We had been predominantly using fields at a variety of different area schools to play our games. That same season in 1994, the AGSL also completed the 2nd phase of the project by opening its new concession stand. Since that time, a long list of improvements and additions have been made at the facility to entrench the complex as the flagship facility for girls’ softball in all of Western New York. Some of the improvements include outfield fences, backstops, and electronic scoreboards at each field. In addition, a picnic shelter, storage garage, lighting on one diamond, various field improvements and of course the restroom facilities have been added. Some of these have taken years to accomplish, but to see the results is what makes it all worthwhile. Over the last ten years, the complex has also enabled us to host numerous highly successful local, regional, and most recently, national championship tournaments.

We also now sponsor a total of ten highly successful Amherst Lightning Travel Teams. This past season, we instituted sponsorship of four Amherst Thunder Teams. These teams compete at a level above the House League teams but not quite to the Lightning Travel Team program. We continue to sponsor and improve upon our highly regarded pitching and general skills clinics designed for the girls in our House League program. When you visit the complex again this year, barring any unforeseen circumstances, you can expect to see additional improvements to the playing fields, protective netting around the two rear diamonds and an expanded batting cage area. Off the field, you will see the introduction of our new, highly anticipated web-site registration and communication tool. Our total registration continues to be well over 700 girls and the AGSL remains the largest and best girls only softball program in Western New York, and we are still growing! Above all, however, we must not lose sight of the fact that it is not shiny new fences, colorful uniforms or expanded tournaments that make this league successful. It is all about the girls having fun and learning about teamwork and fair play. This continues to be and will always remain our main focus. As with any organization of this type, our success is based upon people volunteering their time to help. It is our daughters who will be the ones that benefit. If you would like to become more involved or have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call me at 689-3760. I look forward to seeing you all once again this year. Thanks.