Cook: IN THE MIDDLE OF A STRESSFUL WORK WEEK, PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A WAY TO RELAX.
IN LIVERPOOL, HOPKINS ROAD PARK IS WHERE SOME HEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK.
Marshall: N-C-C SPORTS REPORTER MATHIAS ALTMAN-KUROSAKI TELLS US HOW SOME RESIDENTS HAVE A FOUND A WAY TO RELAX.
Altman-Kurosaki: THANKS CHARLIE. WHEN SYRACUSE AREA LOCALS ARE IN NEED OF A BREAK, THEY HEAD TO THE DIAMOND ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS.
THEY MAKE THOSE EVENINGS FULL OF FUN AND SOME COMPETITION.
Altman-Kurosaki: THE CRACK OF THE BAT — ONE OF THE SWEETEST SOUNDS OF SUMMER.
ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS, THAT SOUND CAN OFTEN BE HEARD AT HOPKINS ROAD PARK IN LIVERPOOL.
Chris “CeeJay” Jackson: “We got a nice squad from the base, and we come out here and play, it’s nice summer break.”
Altman-Kurosaki: AN ORGANIZATION CALLED SALT CITY SPORTS PROVIDES ADULTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIND DOWN AND HAVE SOME FUN.
CEEJAY SAYS HE JOINED THE LEAGUE BECAUSE HIS FRIEND FROM THE AIR FORCE WAS FORMING A TEAM CALLED DIESEL NATION.
BUT THE LEAGUE EVEN ENTICED ONE OBSERVER AND PART-TIME PLAYER FROM THE NETHERLANDS TO COME ON BOARD.
Frank: “It’s fun to watch, it’s good to watch, it’s good to see what the local people are doing over here, yeah.”
Altman-Kurosaki: AND WHILE AT FIRST SITE THIS MAY JUST SEEM LIKE ANY ADULT RECREATIONAL SOFTBALL LEAGUE, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THE GAMES DON’T GET COMPETITIVE.
Jackson: “This league is top notch, some of the best players that travel all across the nation, even during the winter time, these guys play Nationals and always end up in Florida, and a couple national champions over there, so, tournament teams.”
Altman-Kurosaki: EVEN ON DAYS LIKE TODAY WHEN DIESEL NATION DOESN’T COME OUT ON TOP, THEY STILL LOVE TO COME PLAY BALL.
THE COMRADERY IS WHAT KEEPS A LOT OF PLAYERS AROUND.
Jackson: “We got a couple of family members that come out and hang out, it’s nice, it’s nice to break up the week, good uh, something I look forward to in the summer time, even if we do lose half the time.”
Altman-Kurosaki: FOR THE PLAYERS, WEDNESDAY NIGHTS ARE THE HIGHLIGHT FROM LATE APRIL UNTIL LATE AUGUST.
LIVERPOOL, N.Y. (NCC News) — The crack of the bat is one of the sweetest sounds of summer. On Wednesday nights, that sound can frequently be heard at Hopkins Road Park as an adult softball league plays its games.
“We have a nice squad from the base, and we come out here and play, and it’s a nice summer break,” said Chris “CeeJay” Jackson.
The league is organized by Salt City Sports and is seen largely as a way to wind down and have some fun. Jackson said he joined the league because one of his friends in the Air Force was creating a team called Diesel Nation. However, the league even enticed an observer and part-time player from the Netherlands.
“It’s fun to watch, it’s good to watch, it’s good to see what the local people are doing over here,” said Frank Johnson, who says he met members of the team at a bar.
While at first sight, this league may just seem like an average adult softball league, though, Jackson says the games get intense and there are some serious players.
“This league is top-notch, some of the best players that travel all across the nation, even during the winter time, these guys play nationals and always end up in Florida, and a couple of national champions over there, tournament teams,” Jackson said of the team Diesel Nation faced this past week.
Even on days where Diesel Nation comes up short though, they still love to come out and play ball. The comradery is what has kept a lot of people coming back every week.
“We got a couple of family members that come out and hang out, it’s nice, it’s nice to break up the week, something I look forward to in the summertime, even if we do lose half the time,” Jackson said.
For the players, Wednesday nights are the highlight of the week from late April until late August.
