MORE than 50 youngsters have flocked to the Tamworth Softball Association's come and try day on Saturday.
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The Gipps Street playing fields were abuzz with activity as the kids were put through their paces via a number of drills.
As well as learning the basic skills of the game, the throng of junior players also got a taste of the sport through several game-based drills.
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Tamworth Softball Association president Brett Treuer said Saturday's come and try day was the club's most successful in history.
"To be honest, this is one of our best turnouts ever," Treuer told the Leader.
"The committee has put a lot of work into it, so it is good to see all of that pay off.
"Overall, I'm really impressed by the turnout."
Unlike many junior sports, softball runs in sync with the school term, meaning the season is split into two halves.
"The T-Ball competition, which is the under-10 group, runs as a 10 week season, which goes with the school term," Treuer said.
"Where as the Mod-Ball competition, which is the under-13 group, goes for the full two school terms.
"All the coaches we have are accredited and while we had a lot of kids who played last year come back, it's really good to see that the majority of the kids who came down for the come and try day are newcomers."
Saturday's come and try day ran in-conjunction with the opening round of the association's senior competition.
"What our plan was years ago, when we started the T-Ball competition, was to have four teams," Treuer said.
"Through a lot of hard work, we have been able to maintain that, which is great.
"From there, we were able to start the under-13 competition, which also has four teams, and is now in its third year.
"Now what we are seeing is those kids that first started in that first year are now filtering into the senior playing ranks.
"It's been a lot of hard work to set up that pathway, but I really think it is now starting to pay off."
In further proof the game is growing within the region, the association has announced it will launch a mid-week, mixed, slow-pitch competition.
"The idea behind it is that it will be a very social competition," Treuer said.
"We're looking to launch that in mid-November and registrations are now open for that.
"Registrations for the junior teams are still open as well, and kids can join at anytime.
"Everything goes into next year, so if this term doesn't suit them, they can start up next term.
"If anyone's interested they can get in touch via our Facebook page."