Flossmoor Baseball & Softball has canceled its girls softball season for the 2017 season.
Girls who want to play in an organized softball league this year are encouraged to register with Homewood Baseball and Softball, according to a statement issued Saturday by the Flossmoor league.
Flossmoor Baseball & Softball (FBBSB) is discontinuing its softball program this year due to low registration numbers, the statement says. The league is refunding registration fees to any girls who signed up for this season.
FBBSB says the move, in part, is due to the growing popularity of alternative sports programs like soccer and volleyball.
“After numerous efforts since last summer to promote the program to Flossmoor residents and those in neighboring communities, the competition for the time and attention of families to register for softball during the winter months has been difficult,” the statement says. “Unfortunately too few girls have registered for the upcoming spring season to have a viable league.”
In recent years, interest in girls softball has fallen in a number of communities across the Chicago area “from Western Springs to Olympia Fields,” FBBSB says.
“While we are saddened at the waning interest in girls’ softball, we recognize we’re not alone,” the statement says.
“As has always been the case, our number one priority has been to provide interested girls with the opportunity to play softball ― and if we can’t do it in Flossmoor, we are very fortunate to have the option for interested girls to still register today with Homewood Softball for the upcoming spring season.”
The Homewood league’s website is www.homewoodbaseballandsoftball.com.
Persons with any questions or concerns about the cancellation of the softball season can contact Brent Bachus, Flossmoor girls softball commissioner, at 708-267-4660 or visit the FBBSB website at www.flossmoorbbsb.com.