GRAVENHURST WOMEN’S SOFTBALL LEAGUE BIG HIT ON OPENING NIGHT OF FRESH NEW SEASON

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — Mother Tucker’s looked more like defending champions than the Florida Panthers as the women opened their season with a 16-9 win over Peter’s Players Monday.

The Hillarie Tucker-sponsored team was in fine form for Game 1 of a fresh start for the 3-pitch Gravenhurst Women’s Softball Association.

On a finally a warm night and with an excited air of optimism after a tough end to last season, the six teams took the well-groomed field at Gull Lake Rotary Park for a great night of friendly camaraderie as they pitched, hit  and overall enjoyed a heck of competitive four hours of softball played the hardball way.

And isn’t that was recreational sport’s all about in a community league?

Fun and exercise.

Bat’n’Boujee (sponsored by Kelsey Gliddon) won the 7:30 game 18-5 over JAC. They are the Oilers to Mother Tuckers after finishing second last year.

And Vertex rounded out the nightcap 28-6 over Prestige.

Mother Tucker’s Miranda Arends lets fly with the first hit of the season in the new GWSL Monday night. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont

While the three winners had healthy victories everyone was a winner on this glorious night.

A new beginning for an old league, the Gravenhurst Women’s Softball League (GWSL) has a new executive, snazzy pink new jersey and hoodies and a lot of enthusiasm.

It showed with board members introducing themselves on the mound before the opening pitch. They are headed up by president Kara Morley, with Michelle Swanek the 3-Pitch league founder and longtime sponsor; Melissa Boken treasurer/scheduler; Mandy Dart, umpire-in-chief; Kelsey Gliddon, vice-president/communications; Yvonne
Rouleau, social director; and Meghan Pratt, vice-president/secretary.

Swanek threw out the ceremonial first pitch to teammate Cybel Tschetschel, then Swnaek went behind the plate to catch a ball from Morley’s daughter who is a future ladies league junior league ball player in town.

The six teams play every Monday at Gull Lake Rotary Park.

Follow them on Facebook and Instgram to keep up with their standings and plays of the game.

GWSL president Kara Morley sports the league’s new hoodie (only $45) as her step-daughter Rachael points to the league logo.
Michelle Swanek, a league founder and major sponsor, throws out the first pitch to teammate Cybele Tschetschelas umpire Bruce Dart keeps watch.
Young Alejah Schroeder, a town junior baseball pitcher and future GWSL player represented local youth ball players.
The GWSL’s new board includes, left, Melissa Boken, Treasurer/Scheduler; Mandy Dart, Umpire-in-Chief; Michelle Swanek, 3-Pitch League founder and longtime sponsor; Kara Morley, President; Kelsey Gliddon, Vice-President/Communications; Yvonne Rouleau, Social Director; and Meghan Pratt, Vice-President/Secretary.
The official opening ceremony on the mound was welcomed by everyone as a fresh start full of optimism.
Peter Swanek smiles as he snaps photos of his wife and he and his wife’s Peter’s Players team, while players from other teams applaud and can’t wait to get on the field, which was in great shape after a hard winter.
They’re No. 1. The defending champion Mother Tucker’s got off to a better start than their Stanley Cup counterparts the Florida Panthers, who lost their Game 1 last night to the host Edmonton Oilers.
Joanna Gilbert beats a path safely down to first base where Sarah Hiscox had her heel just off the base.
The Bat’n’Boujee team (sponsored by Kelsey Gliddon) also got off to a great start with an 18-5 win over JAC in Game 2. They’re the Oilers of the league after finishing second last season and promise to give Mother Tucker’s a run this year.
From behind and in front of the plate the new GWSL executive is ready for another exciting season.

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