FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Georgetown, Ontario – The Georgetown Ladies Powderpuff League (GLPL) has stepped up to the plate. For 40 years, the recreational ladies’ softball league has been providing fastball and three-pitch softball to local ladies 19 and older and, starting next season, the league will be adding a minor division for girls aged 5 to 18 in an effort to fill the void left by the disbanded Kinsmen Girls Softball League.
With the blessing of the departing Kinsmen Girls Softball League executive, the GLPL has committed to a two-year guarantee that minor ball will be offered under the established GLPL executive. At the end of the 2012 season, the GLPL will evaluate the minor division and decide the division’s future in the organization. Should the GLPL executive and members decide to not continue with the youth division at the end of that first year, the GLPL will still continue to provide minor ball for a second season, giving parents and volunteers plenty of time to form an organization of their own if necessary.
"We believe in minor ball and we don’t want to see it go away," says GLPL Past President Sue Subject, who oversaw the successful addition of the three-pitch division 10 years ago. "We’ve come full circle. Forty years ago, the GLPL was born out of the Kinsmen league and now, forty years later, we’re able to pay it back."
At a girls’ house league softball information meeting in October, GLPL representatives announced the league’s two-year minor ball commitment, which was met with enthusiasm by the coaches, parents, Kinsmen and concerned citizens in attendance. The Town of Halton Hills also fully supports the addition of a new youth division.
Since making the decision to start a minor division, the GLPL executive has been in touch with other youth baseball associations in the area to see how their leagues operate. Based on that research, the executive determined that the new minor division will be open to all girls of all skill levels aged 5 to 18 with the age divisions being re-aligned so that girls of a similar age will play against one another. Registration fees will be slightly higher than those of the disbanded Kinsmen Girls Softball League due mainly to umpiring fees, which the old league – with its volunteer umpires – didn’t incur. The girls will also be required to buy their own helmets, however the league is negotiating a special discounted rate with local sports store EndZone Sports Exchange.
The 2012 GLPL executive is committed to revitalizing girls’ minor ball in town and that relies heavily on early registration. Registration for all minor and adult divisions is scheduled for Thursday, January 26, 2012, at the Georgetown Market Place. Minor ball players are encouraged to register at this time so the executive can make informed decisions on the direction of the youth divisions, how to align the age groups and how to move forward for what is sure to be an exciting year of softball.
For more information, visit the GLPL website at www.glpl.org or email GLPL President Dee Dee Haynes-Ridley at deedeeridley@gmail.com.
Contact:
Andrea Lefebvre
Publicist, Georgetown Ladies Powderpuff League
Home: 905-877-2370
Cell: 905-703-1142
andrea.lefebvre@gmail.com
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