Travel girls' fastball is making a return to Sarnia this year, for the first time since the 1990s.
Registration is now open for the Sarnia Heat U9, U13, U17 and U19 divisions.
Chairman Aaron Zimmer said they'll be playing in the Lambton Central Girls' Softball League.
"Fastball has just exploded in the area, and Lambton College has been a part of that," said Zimmer. "We saw that and said, 'this is something that we need to do.' It's just giving the girls in the area, especially in the Sarnia area, this opportunity. I've been part of house league for 10 years. My daughter couldn't play ball the one year due to COVID but Camlachie offered half a season so she went out there. I got to see all of the girls in Camlachie playing and figured that Sarnia has the ability to compete with these teams. Let's do this, let's get going."
Zimmer said the league features teams like Camlachie, Corunna, Wyoming, Wilkesport, Port Lambton, Alvinston and Charring Cross which is near Chatham.
The Sarnia squads also have the opportunity to play in travel tournaments if they wish.
Zimmer said each team is in need of at least three coaches to guide the girls through the season.
"We can't even start a team without having coaches," he said. "We're encouraging parents who are signing their kids up to step forward and help coach and we're welcoming non-parent coaches as well. If there's anybody in the community that knows fastball and wants to help make these players better, we'd like to have them reach out as well."
Zimmer said they'll be wearing better quality uniforms, as mandated by the league.
"The pants will have to have a belt on them whereas house league is just a drawstring, and the jerseys are a lot nicer. We have to kind of follow the league standards. It's kind of a step up. We're trying to make this as fancy as we can. We promote that it's travel, and a bit more competitive now."
You can sign up until February 28 for travel and March 31 for house league.
More information is posted to www.sarniaminorathletic.com