Though Curtis Dulay has been involved with Santa Maria Girls Softball Inc. for six years, this is his first year as president, and he’s not dawdling in his efforts to build up the program. The group has suffered in the past from a lack of awareness in terms of registration and preparation, he feels, so he’s getting the word out in any way he can.
That word is “softball,” and not much else. The game is open to girls from 5 years old up to the high school level. There are five age divisions, with at least four teams per division, and Dulay’s goal for this year is to see 300 or so girls out on the diamond—up from about 260 last year.
The smallest kids can start off with T-ball. At the other end of the age spectrum, girls who don’t make their high school softball teams are welcome to play in the group’s Division 3, which is typically reserved for players 14 and younger, but sometimes stretches to include 15-year-olds.
“We want to keep them involved,” Dulay said.
Dulay is excited about the coming season and support from the community. But despite his focus on softball—and the morals, discipline, rapport, and other life skills it teaches—he’s facing a few challenges.
“We’re having to build our program around girls who’ve never played before,” Dulay said.
He explained that the Santa Maria area is home to a lot of travel teams, which pit local players against girls from other towns and cities. Such teams are usually made up of players with a certain higher degree of softball skill.
Girls new to the game—many of Santa Maria Girls Softball’s participants, for instance—can become quickly discouraged because they’re playing with and against, well, more girls new to the game. To that end, Dulay is working on shoring up strong coaches who can, in turn, transform newbies into softball machines.
Dulay (who previously coached softball, football, and basketball at Santa Maria High School) wants to help the group’s coaches by listening to their feedback. The program is also host to a coach’s clinic and player’s clinic. Dulay works at bringing people he’s worked with and who now coach Olympic softball—like Monica Abbot and Jennie Finch—through town. The group even bought all-new catcher’s gear, bats, and helmets for players, so coaches can have quality tools to help them lead and guide their teams this next season.
The ultimate goal is to teach, Dulay explained.
“This is the place to get started. It’s all about basics,” he said, “teaching young girls basics about the game … making sure they get the proper training so they can be successful.”
Dulay has seen that training work firsthand on his daughter and two nieces.
Despite the forward motion on coaching and teaching, however, he’s also facing a challenge in funding. For its games, Santa Maria Girls Softball Inc. rents the Hagerman Sports Complex from Santa Maria, and thus doesn’t operate a snack bar. No snack bar means no money from chips and sodas. Still, dollars have to come from somewhere, and Dulay said the group has had to up its registration costs.
That increase, however, should be offset by a built-in fundraiser that earns players $50 through raffle ticket sales. Grand prize is a Disney family package valued at $1,000.
Santa Maria Girls Softball Inc.’s financial situation also benefits from a lack of salaries. Everybody operates through volunteer work.
“The only people who get paid are the umpires,” Dulay said, “and the fans have their judgment on that.”
Get on the diamond
Santa Maria Girls Softball Inc. registration dates are Jan. 10 and 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Jan. 15 and 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. Cost is $125 for a first child, $105 for a second child, and $85 for a third child. Each registration includes a pre-paid fundraiser—players will earn back $50 upon selling 10 raffle tickets for $5 each..
A bylaw meeting is set for Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. at Edwards Community Center.
For more information or to sign up for the next season, visit leaguelineup.com/smgs or call 868-9075.
Executive Editor Ryan Miller doesn’t care if it’s slow pitch or fast pitch—he just can’t hit a ball. Contact him at rmiller@santa mariasun.com.
This article appears in Dec 25, 2008 – Jan 1, 2009.