Team Members Share Their Memories

By Matthew Free

From the cold dampness of March to the blistering summer heat into July teams of Rose City Softball Association have been playing now for 15 years. Through all of the practices, 18 league games, and multiple tournaments various teams participate in there has been many memorable moments. There has been excitement of amazing plays to the drama of bad calls with everything in between. With a league now comprised over 300 athletes the memories are many. Here are a few to share.

“I admit at first my reaction was ‘a gay softball league?! That is crazy you don’t need a special place to play ball just because you’re gay. If you want to play ball just join a city league.’ Well…was I wrong. Once I joined and saw how many gay men and women there were with all the fun they were having it all made sense to me. Finally a place where you can be with your own kind without the smoke, drinks, and thumping music to meet other really great gay people, and you know they are all gay. Not that the fields can still be a pick up place, but gay ball is a social interaction within our community. I have 13 new brothers from my team and 300 new in-laws; other RCSA players.” –Tim Bias, Redwings Catcher, 14 years in RCSA

“After our 2007 season, the team was splitting up going in different directions. Some members to other teams. Others players going into ‘Hibernation.’ Remaining teammate, Ryan Brown, gave me a proposal for a way to keep the team alive with my help. We decided to become manager and co-managers respectively having no idea what we were in for. Still, after that conversation, I was smiling knowing I would continue to be playing softball for the team I fell in love with.” –Gil Estrada, Bears co-manager and RCSA member since 2002.

“I have gone to twelve of the 15 Softball Gay World Series since RCSA was created. One of the most exciting times at one of these tournaments was in Portland 2002. That was the year that our local women’s division teams ‘Mixed Fruit’ took the title.” –Tori Cass, Umpire

“My favorite memory so far is catching the ball that helped my team win the final game of last season. I felt as though I was three feet in the air to grab it. So happy to have made the play, I almost forgot to throw the ball back in.” –Erin Jones, Beavs Outfielder, 6 years in RCSA

“After playing for 38 years, I am about to retire from the game. Softball has provided me an outlet that was positive and affirming. In a way it saved my life preventing me from going down the wrong paths often presented to me. RCSA gives not the individual but also the community a foundation of strength through its longevity.” –Kim Conner, Rough Riders Pitcher, 7 years with RCSA

“The year I played in the Russian River tournament in 2007 with the Jocq’s. Though not expecting, we won the tournament for our division by staying positive. The whole weekend was so fun as the team really came together and bonded. Such occasions show me that you can always improve in our lives and nothing should remain static.” –James Kinniburgh, Coach Bella Boys, 15th year in RCSA

“What I want for my softball future is to always win, win, win! Well, not really. Well, yes, really! But there are other goals to accomplish in RCSA involvement: being more visible in the non-gay community; building the self-confidence in younger guys; and oh yes, I want to play till I am 80 at least.” –David Gunn, Titans Short Stop with 4 years in RCSA

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