A Fall Full of Fun: Community Softball Swings Into Town
- Shanda Crosby
- Dec 3, 2025
- 2 min read
The CCPS Community Education Fall Softball League was a hit this fall, complete with a state-of-the-art turf field, food trucks, friendly competition, and community connection.
The idea began with a spark from Community Schools Director Christy Bush, who thought it was time to revive a once-popular area tradition.
“There used to be leagues here through Parks and Rec and other groups,” said Chief Operations Officer Brandon Watkins. “We still felt like there was interest, so we sent out a survey. The response was great, so we decided to move forward.”
Originally, the league was slated for the fields at Hannah McClure. But as fall crept in — and with it, less predictable weather — the district shifted the games to the turf fields at GRC.
The decision turned out to be a home run. The district brought in adjustable bases to make the field softball-ready, and suddenly the school’s athletic facilities were bustling with community members, many of whom were stepping onto the fields for the first time.
That, Watkins said, was part of the magic.
“Any way we can open up our facilities, whether it’s holiday meals or a softball league, the community wants to be a part of what we’re doing,” he explained. “People want opportunities to engage with their school system and with each other. I think to experience the first-class facilities at GR was a highlight of the experience.”
With strong competition and an outstanding venue, the league was a huge success.
“There were some really good teams,” Watkins said with a laugh. “But it was fun, too. Our team had a blast. The feedback was very positive.”
As the district looks to the future, Watkins hinted at a few tweaks such as starting the season earlier and possibly splitting the league into co-ed and open divisions to better match skill levels and roster makeups.
No matter what shape it takes next year, one thing’s certain: The community wants more.
“I want to give credit to Ms. Bush for making the atmosphere so upbeat and welcoming,” Watkins said. “We had music, announcing, and a rotation of food trucks. It was just a very positive experience.”
The players agree. "Winchester has always had a huge softball following and to be able to extend that out to a lot of new and experienced players was incredible," said Brandon McClure. "We've had numerous conversations about how much more fun it is to be able to use a facility like this and watch the community come out and support. Hopefully this is something we can continue doing season after season and growing the sport in more ways than one."
