close

Gallery: All-American Softball

08XX16_CarolynSoftball_CB_01

Playing sports with friends and neighbors is a tradition as longstanding and all-American as Chautauqua itself. The men’s and women’s recreational softball leagues, which play at Sharpe Field, are no exception.

In true Chautauqua fashion, many teams have family connections – mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, who play on the same teams as other relatives cheer from the sidelines. Often, the teams themselves become like families over the years as participants return, season after season.

Skyler Zarou, left, and Peter Evans, right, members of the YAC PAC softball team, fall backwards after colliding in a celebratory mid-air body bump in honor of their softball team's victory over the Slugs team at 7 PM on Friday, July 29, at Sharpe Field. The YAC team beat the Slugs 21-5. Photo by Carolyn Brown.
Skyler Zarou, left, and Peter Evans, right, members of the YAC PAC softball team, fall backwards after colliding in a celebratory mid-air body bump in honor of their softball team’s victory over the Slugs team at 7 PM on Friday, July 29, at Sharpe Field. The YAC team beat the Slugs 21-5. Photo by Carolyn Brown.
Madeline Steere, 10, watches the final game in the men's softball league from the Slugs team dugout at 7 P.M. on Wednesday, August 3, 2016, at Sharpe Field. The Slugs team, whom Steere was rooting for, beat the YAC PAC team 38-11. Photo by Carolyn Brown.
Madeline Steere, 10, watches the final game in the men’s softball league from the Slugs team dugout at 7 P.M. on Wednesday, August 3, 2016, at Sharpe Field. The Slugs team, whom Steere was rooting for, beat the YAC PAC team 38-11. Photo by Carolyn Brown.
Danny Miller, left, reaches out to shake hands with Lee Lowenfish, right, before the final game of the men's softball game at 6:30 P.M. on Wednesday, August 3, 2016, at Sharpe Field. Lowenfish taught a Special Studies class about baseball and American culture. Photo by Carolyn Brown.
Danny Miller, left, reaches out to shake hands with Lee Lowenfish, right, before the final game of the men’s softball game at 6:30 P.M. on Wednesday, August 3, 2016, at Sharpe Field. Lowenfish taught a Special Studies class about baseball and American culture. Photo by Carolyn Brown.
Reid James, center, leads the YAC PAC team in celebration in a game against the Pounders at 6:30 P.M. on Monday, August 1, 2016, at Sharpe Field. The YAC PAC team advanced to the final game against the Slugs as a result. Photo by Carolyn Brown.
Reid James, center, leads the YAC PAC team in celebration in a game against the Pounders at 6:30 P.M. on Monday, August 1, 2016, at Sharpe Field. The YAC PAC team advanced to the final game against the Slugs as a result. Photo by Carolyn Brown.
The Chautauqua Belles team puts their hands together for a team cheer after a game against the Hot Chauts at 6 P.M. on Sunday, July 31, 2016, at Sharpe Field. The game, the last of the season in the women's league's regular term before the playoffs, would advance the Belles to the number four seed. Photo by Carolyn Brown.
The Chautauqua Belles team puts their hands together for a team cheer after a game against the Hot Chauts at 6 P.M. on Sunday, July 31, 2016, at Sharpe Field. The game, the last of the season in the women’s league’s regular term before the playoffs, would advance the Belles to the number four seed. Photo by Carolyn Brown.
Taylor Samuelson, of the Hot Chauts team, left, runs to third base as Mary Pat McFarland, of the Chautauqua Belles team, right, throws the ball at 7 P.M. on Tuesday, July 26, 2016, at Sharpe Field. The Hot Chauts, who won the game, also ultimately won first place in the women's league, defeating the Misfits by one run in extra innings. Photo by Carolyn Brown.
Taylor Samuelson, of the Hot Chauts team, left, runs to third base as Mary Pat McFarland, of the Chautauqua Belles team, right, throws the ball at 7 P.M. on Tuesday, July 26, 2016, at Sharpe Field. The Hot Chauts, who won the game, also ultimately won first place in the women’s league, defeating the Misfits by one run in extra innings. Photo by Carolyn Brown.
Pitcher Jeff Miller, of the Slugs team, center, laughs before throwing out a pitch to the YAC PAC team at 8 P.M. on Friday, July 29, 2016, at Sharpe Field. Photo by Carolyn Brown.
Pitcher Jeff Miller, of the Slugs team, center, laughs before throwing out a pitch to the YAC PAC team at 8 P.M. on Friday, July 29, 2016, at Sharpe Field. Photo by Carolyn Brown.

Carolyn Brown

The author Carolyn Brown

Carolyn Brown is a photographer and recent graduate of Smith College. A lifelong Chautauquan, Carolyn’s interests include history and the performing arts.