Cody Englander
Staff Writer
The first game of the 2025 Chautauqua Men’s Softball League began at 5 p.m. Monday at Sharpe Field when the Fish Heads took on the YAC PAC. This year, four teams make up the 7-inning, slow-pitch softball league.
The Fish Heads flourished in the rain, while the YAC PAC floundered early, letting up four runs in the second inning, which would be the deciding factor in the game.
The YAC PAC would eventually climb back to a 5–2 game in the fourth inning, with Liam Vitters stepping up to the plate with no shoes, attempting to channel the energy of Shoeless Joe Jackson. But he popped a ball up to shallow left field, which was caught and thrown to second, resulting in a double play.
Despite a late seventh inning two-run push, the YAC PAC fell to the Fish Heads, closing out the game 8–4.
“Winning meant a lot. … It felt really good to get this first win over the YAC PAC,” said Will Chubb, captain of the Fish Heads, whose team roster had gone through several off-season changes. “I’m really happy with the way we’re setting the scene for the rest of the season.”
The next scheduled game of the day had been the Slugs versus the Arthritics, but it was called off in the third inning by Chautauqua Softball Co-Commissioner Wes Delancey due to the rain.
The postponed game is set to be the second game in a triple-header beginning at 4:30 p.m. today at Sharpe Field. In the first game, the Arthritics will play the Fish Heads; in the second, the Slugs play the Arthritics; and in the third, the YAC PAC plays the Slugs.
