Join The Excitement Of Casper’s 26th Annual OnePitch Tournament

Softball became a sport three years before Wyoming became an official state. In 1887, a boxing glove was rolled up tightly, and a broom handle was used as a bat. The rolled-up boxing glove was soft, and players didn't need to use a glove, hence the name "softball."

Today, you'll find many levels of the game, from Little League to the professional and Olympic levels. Summer softball leagues are popular with men and women, and softball tournaments are a serious business.

This summer, the Casper Recreation Division is hosting the 26th Annual One-Pitch Softball Tournament on Saturday, August 9, and Sunday, August 10. The tournament will offer men's, women's, and coed divisions. The registration fee is $250 per team and guarantees at least three games.

Registration for the tournament is open now and will remain open until July 27.

A basic overview of a one-pitch softball game is, well, pretty simple.

• Every batter gets one pitch.
• If the batter doesn't swing and the pitch is a strike or swings and misses, the batter is out.
• If the pitch is a ball and the batter doesn't swing, it's a walk.
• If the batter hits a foul ball and the ball isn't caught, they have one more pitch to put the ball into play.
• If the ball is hit foul but hits the backstop, the batter is out.
• If the ball is hit into fair territory, the results of the play determine if the batter is safe or out.

The one-pitch game ensures the game is fast-paced and exciting, allowing more games to be played.