 Well, for the last 50 plus years, one of the longest running traditions in Bemidji takes place on the diamonds. Bemidji Church League softball has been swinging in the summer spotlight since the early 60s and still going strong. I've been playing since I was 14. I started playing probably mid 60s with my dad. Since I was 14, so this is my 17th season already. As long as you can throw a ball, swing a bat and belong to a Bemidji-based church, this softball league's for you. Many of the players starting at the minimum age requirement of 14, and they're still playing. Just love watching the kids come out and play, watching them get from not being able to even hit a softball to hit their first home run and all that stuff. I just like to come roddering and everything else. That's why I do it. The league starts in May and runs 10 weeks through the summer. They meet two nights a week, then come together as one at the end of the season for a tournament. Played Monday nights and Tuesday nights at fields around town. We usually have a double header, just like every other league does. We play 10 weeks and then we do a tournament out here at Cast Lake. 14 teams at one complex playing for the league championship for the players. It doesn't get much better than that. Coming together at the end of the year where we have both Monday night and Tuesday night playing each other all in one place. That's fantastic. Great way to end the year. That includes teams and other players they don't get to see as much, or even family members. A big aspect and uniqueness of this league. Bye! Really as a family atmosphere, I don't know of any other league that has more fathers, sons, daughters playing together. Many of the churches, you know, the church's family. My dad started when he was 21 and he's played all the way through and then we started when we were 14 and now we have three brothers and my dad that all play on the same team so it's a pretty neat aspect. So togetherness, family and just having fun playing softball is what this league is all about. Sure we all want to win, great, right? Awesome. But at the same time we're out here having a good time. We're having fun. It's guys from your local church or just guys you know even that attend somewhere or something and it's an opportunity for us to all just get together and play and have a good time in fellowship, you know what I mean? Again, don't get me wrong. We all want to win, but the main thing is that we're out here having a good time. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.