Earlier this month, Berks county residents were treated to a favorite American spring sound – the solid thunnkkk of bat hitting ball as the Fleetwood Girls Softball Association (FGSA) dominated the Berks Girls Softball League (BGSL) spring playoffs.
The Association sent four of five teams across levels 8U through 12U to at least the semifinal playoff game in their respective age-groups.
Fleetwood’s 10UA team won the 10UA championship in a 13-12 nailbiter over rival Hamburg to complete its undefeated season. Overall, FGSA’s teams finished with a combined 41-12 record in the regular season. The summer 14U season is now underway, and the 14U girls are already 1-0.
The FGSA has been gaining momentum in recent years, not just with their skills, but with their enthusiasm, commitment to positive reinforcement and good sport, and dedication to ‘teaching their cubs to be lady tigers.’ By the offering a wide-range of fun activities for the girls, the census is exploding with interest. Almost 100 girls are now part of the association.
In addition to playing on FGSA teams, the girls are given opportunities to take part in free optional open gyms throughout the winter, summer tournaments, a pool party at a Reading Phillies game, a movie night right on their home field at the Blandon Fire Company, softball camp with the Reading Phillies, a bus trip to the Philadelphia Phillies, a pancake breakfast at Applebee’s, fundraising at Maidencreek Community Days, a golf outing for the parents, marching in the Fleetwood Santa Parade, and a yearly coaches-vs-kids charity fund raiser.
At last year’s coaches-vs-kids charity event the FGSA raised $2,500 to donate to Breast Cancer Awareness. Ideas are being taken for where they will focus our donation for this year’s event to be held in October.
Registration is underway for the fall season. Any girls interested should contact the FGSA through their website, fleetwoodgirlssoftball.org, through their page on facebook, or by contacting Chris Malinowski, 484-256-8340. All girls ages 6 thru 14 in the Fleetwood school district area are eligible to play for FGSA, as are any girls in any other townships in Berks County that are not already represented by another team in BCGSL.
