Summer baseball program sees increase

The Hot Springs County Recreation Department baseball program is underway, with a couple games already in the books. Department Director Brad Morrison said there are 76 kids, ages 3-12, out for the program this year, which is up 20 from last year.

Of those out, there are 20 in the Start Smart program for three- to five-year-olds, which involves parents attending one day a week to help their kids learn baseball fundamentals like hitting, throwing and catching.

Another 18 of the kids are in the Coach Pitch program, 21 are in the Minors and 17 are in the Majors.

The Majors season kicked off with a May 23 loss at home vs. Otto. Morrison noted it was a good game all the way through, with a back-and-forth battle and each team taking what they could, when they could. The team also suffered a loss at home against Worland on May 25, and their June 1 game at Worland was called due to lightning.

The Majors schedule for the rest of the season is: June 8, 6:15 p.m. at home vs. Worland; June 15, 6:15 p.m. at Worland; June 22, 6:15 p.m. at home vs. Otto; June 23 tournament at Worland; and June 29, 5:30 p.m. at Otto. Home games are played at Whitt Field.

Morrison noted there will be a few Tuesdays during the season where they see some inters-quad games. Though it can be a bit of a scramble to get everything ready — anticipating 12 players and getting nearly 20 — he said it all works out.

Adult softball

Adult Softball Results from the past week are:

May 30 — One Stop Sparkplugs - 16, OEB – 7; Robin Batsman – 13, Slide One In - 11

June 1 — Sons Of Pitches – 18, Risen Son – 3; Merit’s Nicest Team Ever - 13 One Stop – 8

Matches this week include OEB against Robin Batsman at 6:30 p.m. June 6, followed by One Stop Sparkplug against Risen Son at 7:45 p.m. June 8 will see Risen Son against Merit’s Nicest Team Ever at 6:30 p.m. and Slide One In against Sons of Pitches at 7:45 p.m. On June 13 it will be Robin Batsman and Merit at 6:30 p.m., and One Stop and the Sons of Pitches at 7:45 p.m.