Bringing back softball at our school would not only foster teamwork and school spirit but also provide students with a valuable opportunity for physical fitness and personal growth.

Many students would benefit from this, as a lot of them play travel ball, among other things. They could get more practice while also building stronger bonds with other players.

I interviewed Chloe Gomez to get her perspective on having softball back at our school. She mentioned that many girls would enjoy softball, and when we were in 6th grade, a lot of girls were excited to join softball in 7th grade. However, the program was changed to flag football instead. I also asked her why she thought they took softball away, and she said that a couple of years ago, they didn’t have enough players. Lastly, I asked her if she would ever play for the school, and she said she would because it offers many opportunities.

My view is that it would be great to see girls playing a sport they love, both in and out of school. Personally, I wouldn’t play softball because I don’t think I could fit it into my cheer schedule, but I think a lot of people would sign up for the sport.

I also interviewed Mr. Agrippino to ask why they decided to remove softball. He said,
“I loved coaching softball. I did it for 25 seasons. It was exciting, and I enjoyed the strategy.”
He went on to say that our school didn’t decide to cut softball; it was the FUAL league that discontinued it due to lack of interest. He also mentioned that we may never know if softball will return anytime soon. When I asked him what he coaches now, he shared:
“I’ve coached cross country for a year, coached 7th grade volleyball for the first time, and we were co-champions of the league. I also started coaching girls’ flag football in the spring with Ms. Banderas, and I will be coaching it again this spring. Finally, I’m one of the player coaches for the roller hockey after-school sport on Thursdays.”

In conclusion, it seems we may not know when (or if) softball will return, but there’s still a chance we can bring it back if schools hold another vote. If you’re interested in joining a team, you can check out the seasonal softball options available through the Lincoln Community Center website.