Oskaloosa Industrial Softball League Forms
Pictured from left to right: Carey Legvold and Ryan Harkema (front), Justin Hunolt, Brad Hynick, and Dawn Collins (back) (submitted photo)
Oskaloosa, Iowa – April 26, 2012 -The adult softball industrial league was very strong 15 years ago with 12 men’s teams and five co-ed teams from Oskaloosa and surrounding communities. Many field improvements were made then. People slowly lost interest in the league and it eventually disbanded. The field sat empty and unused for several years until the Mahaska County YMCA began offering a league again. Now, there is new interest in an industrial league. The Oskaloosa Industrial Softball League was created this winter with the goal of providing a new ASA league and putting 100% of their proceeds back into the city fields.
After several meetings to discuss ways to work collaboratively and address much-needed field improvements, the new league and the YMCA have reached an agreement. The Mahaska County YMCA has decided it is in the community’s best interest for the YMCA to turn over its adult softball program to the new league. “The new league wanted to collaborate and share the field. I appreciate their consideration and support of the YMCA very much. But, they are 100% volunteer-managed and will put 100% of the funds they raise back into the fields. The fields need work and the YMCA wants to support those efforts. It just makes sense for one organization to manage all the leagues on the field,” said Dawn Collins, Mahaska County YMCA Executive Director. “We have had some good conversations and we all want a strong adult softball program. The new league board has a solid plan and the Y will provide assistance if needed.”
The Oskaloosa Industrial Softball League supports the YMCA. “I am a member of the YMCA and support everything it does,” says Carey Legvold, one of the league board members. “We will still work with the YMCA so they can offer softball and kickball tournaments every year too. We want to support the YMCA, we just want to raise money and get the fields improved.”
T.J. Stuart, another league member, assures that this is not about conflicts with the YMCA. “Ryan has done a great job managing the league since he started. We just know that the YMCA doesn’t have the resources to improve the fields and we want to help.” Registration is open for the league now. A co-ed league will have play options of Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. A men’s league will play on Fridays. For more information about the league or to register, contact Carey Legvold at 641.670.0140. Information is also available on the Y website at www.mahaskaYMCA.org.
