This past weekend saw some gruesome heat but young softball players laced up their cleats and oiled their gloves and took the field for some challenging competition. It was the three-day Halifax Softball Summer Smash – the largest ever for this 18th annual event.
Three divisions brought teams together from throughout the South Shore: 10U, 12U, and 14U girls demonstrated that softball is in good hands with plenty of talent making its way through the grades. The Halifax Hurricanes took top place in the U12 Red category.
Pete Barone, founder and president of the HGSL, began the Halifax Summer Smash in 2005 so his daughter Alex, then 8-years-old, and her teammates could play in their own tournament. She is now 26 and runs the concessions and raffles with his other daughter Maddy.
“It started as 11 teams and quickly grew each year,” Barone said. “We use all five fields at Halifax Elementary and both fields at Vaughan, next to the police station. All the fields are full on Friday evening and from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. “ This year’s Summer Smash hosted 45 teams from throughout the area and it has become the largest “Town-Al-Stars” team tournament anywhere.
Barone credits the number of Halifax parents who volunteer their time each tourney to work on the fields, cover the snack shacks, set everything up and break it all down at the end with the continued success of the event.