Bristol Womens’ Slo-Pitch Softball League

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The beginning of the …

Bristol Womens’ Slo-Pitch Softball League

In 1974, when driving through Norton Park in Plainville, I noticed a women’s    softball game. I stopped because I was curious – I had never heard of nor seen a slo-pitch softball game.

After the game I talked to some of the players, and they asked me to join the team although there were only a few games left.

Apparently, this was the final season of this league, but one of the players was Carol Matteo from the Plainville Recreation Department, and she told me that town of Plainville had a Housewives Legue. I inquired about this league and was invited to form my own team for the 1975 season. Through word of mouth – friends asking friends, relatives asking relatives – we became the “Bristol Stompers”. We had 22 ladies who participated. We went undefeated!! So….the rules were changed so that only Plainville residents could play in the league in 1976 and thereafter!!!!

Shortly after this decision, I went to the Bristol Parks and recreation office and asked Dave Dickson why there wasn’t a women’s’ softball league in town. He told me that he didn’t think there would be enough interest to warrant a league for women. I asked that  if I could prove there was an interest, could I try to get a league off the ground for 1976. He agreed. I drew up a petition and in 2 days had over 75 ladies who had signed it! I took it to the park office and showed it to Dave Dickson, who assigned Theresa DeSabato, the Recreation Coordinator, to oversee the program.

Having obtained the Southington Women’s’ Softball League by-laws and the rules of the Plainville leagues, we drew up our own rules and started to plan or the new Bristol Women’s Slo-Pitch Softball League. To be eligible for the league, a woman had to be 18 or over, be a resident or be employed by the City of Bristol or be employed full time in Bristol. There were no limitations on the number of players on a team roster. We set a date for sign-ups, either, either individually (one would be assigned a team) or by team. We were hoping to get at least four teams and ended up with 8!!!. Each team was responsible to get their own sponsor, uniforms, equipment etc., and every player had to register with the Park Department and sign a waiver that said the City would not be sued if an injury occurred during a practice or game. The Park Department gave us the use of the Page Park field, Ingraham Field and Wilson field every Tuesday and Thursday. The Park Department assigned the umpires.

Since I was the founder, I was the first President. The league started in May and concluded in late July with the playoffs in early August. The following shows some names of the original 8 teams: Tracy-Driscoll, Bristol Hospital, Chippy’s, GT Graphics and Rock Tires.

The following list are some of the women that participated in the first year and in many other years of the league:

Beth Rotko

Sandra Marenna

Candy Palaia

Gail Borkowski

Tammy Chapman

Pat Tompkil

Roxanne Ancher

Pam Ploude

Donna Peters

Claudia Clark

Paula Forcier

Ruth Ann Field

Joann Micuccci

Martha Ambrose

Betsy Ancher

Nella Diani

Sue Sopczneski

Connie Ziogas

Linda Giovanazzo

Diane Ouelette

Linda Zastko

Karen Melnick

Sue Paradis

Kathy Keating

Debbie Wilson

Coral O’Keefe

Lori Nedderman

Narissa Goffigan

Dee Boucher

Debbie Kemp

Martha Nadeau

Joann Galati

Diane McKinney

Hopefully, this will help you out. Best of luck in all your endeavors.

Beth Rotko