Fifth Freedom, 1983-04-01

              5TH FREEDOM A PUBLICATION FOR THE BUFFALO GAY COMMUNITY APRIL 1983 FREE "The Freedom to love whomever and however we want" SPRING ARRIVES... AND WITH IT WOMEN'S SOFTBALL Spring Is now upon us, so a word of advice to all the women watchers out there: the place to be during the next few months is on the women's softball circuit. Yes, that's where the action is from late May through late Aigust, and on the Niagara Frontier, the choices are many. Several hundred teams are already registered with the various city and county women's softball leagues, including both fast-pitch and slow-pitch playing and various levels of skill. Aside from the more standard league teams, there's even an informal Canadian-Merican league for women interested in playing non-competitively, just for fun. So, if you're interested in playing, it's time to get down to some serious training and muscle-toning. Remember, not only do you want to avoid unnecessary injuries from straining unprepared muscles, you also want to be at your best to please these audiences full of admiring women. Men certainly don't have a monopoly on the "cruising gam*", especially when women's softball opens on the Niagara Frontier. Local Gay Bars Sponsor Teams Both MC Compton's and DianeDDuffs Little Club are once again sponsoring several league teams. Sherrill Cooper announces that Compton's will be sponsoring a total of five teams this year on the MJNY and Classic Leagues. last year's undefeated champions, "Cooper's," can be seen playing on Wednesday evenings at the Polonia diamonds, near William Street and Fillmore Avenue. Two other MJNY teams, "Compton's Too," and "Barrett's," will play on Monday nights at the Manhattan fields near Central Park Plaza. Cn Tuesday nights the action will be at Houghton Park, off Genesee Street near Bailey Avenue, when the two Classic League teams will play - "Buffalo Gold" and a still-unnamed team. After the games, the action continues when the team players and fans head back to Compton's on Niagara Street for celebrations. Whether it's a game won or lost, the spirits are always high as the camaraderie and fun of playing extend into the night. Diane Duff's winning team from last season will once again be on the diamonds this year also. Stop in at the Little Club on Main Street for more information about when and where they can be seen playing. Sponsor Needed For "Fun Loving" team "The Bears" is a team that's heading into its third year of action on the MUNY League even while it's still looking for a sponsor. (Anyone out there want to sponsor a fun-loving, energetic group of hard-playing women?) Viewing themselves as a "recreational" team, according to "The Bears" manager, Susan Cook, they first organized as a league team in 1981. The team grew out of a circle of friends who decided to take some action on their continually-stated desire to play softball regularly. They pulled together a roster of players, registered with the MUNY League and found a sponsor to help off-set the costs of playing on a league. These costs include the team's registration fee, a per-game umpire's fee and T-shirts or uniforms. "The Bears" will be playing on Friday nights (loca* tion unknown at press time) and regularly practices on Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons at the hidden diamond in Delaware Park. "Having fun is equally important to winning," according to Susan, and the off-field sports during practice and games are also known to be every bit as important, according to other eye-witness accounts. Softball For Fun In Fort Erie On Tuesday nights the Peace Bridge holds a lot of traffic heading over to Fort Erie to play softball "just for fun." Organized in 1981 by Canadian residents, Donna and Lisa, the league offers a space for women who want to play softball, but don't want any of the pressures of regular league regulations and restrictions governing team rosters, schedules and the like. So far the league has not had regular, established team rosters. When enough women show up for two complete teams, a regular game is played. If fewer people are in attendance any given week, then either the teams play short of nine players or a form of rotation playing takes place. The league includes women with varying levels of skills and seriousness. Without regular team rosters, winning first place is nobody*s priority. Players are encouraged to increase their skills and play well, however, even though "winning" is not important. -As in any softball league, the season ends with a banquet and presentation of trophies for various awards voted on by the players. Since there are no restrictions or deadlines on registering players, women are welcome to drop in any week to join the fun. Those who have never even touched a softball or bat before are encouraged to play on the Fort Erie league. Post-game celebrations are also not forgotten by this recreational softball league, as the players leave the field at sundown and take over one large corner of the Waverly Hotel in Fort Erie. Although it's a typically straight bar with a country/western flavored jukebox, the management makes the softball players feel welcome and right at home. Information about the location of the playing field in Fort Erie will be available later in April. Interested women can check with the GLCC (call 886-1274 or drop by 97 Rhode Island Street on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, 7-9 pm) for the specifics, which may also be posted at some of the bars.