GSLW - Girls Softball League of Westfield

The GSLW is a not-for-profit organization, the purpose of which is to provide the girls of Westfield with the opportunity to learn and to play fast-pitch softball. The GSLW is a not-for-profit organization, the purpose of which is to provide the girls of Westfield with the opportunity to learn and to play fastpitch softball. As a general proposition, the GSLW’s programs are open to all girls (grades K-12) who live in Westfield or who go to school in Westfield. And, with some exceptions, the GSLW’s programs are organized and run entirely by volunteers from the Westfield community. These leagues are open to all girls in grades K-8 who live in Westfield. They are also open to girls who go to school in Westfield, but who reside elsewhere. Last year, approximately 650 girls participated in the GSLW’s four in-town leagues - the K-1 League, the International League (grades 2-3), the National League (grades 4-5), and the American League (grades 6-8). These four leagues consisted of approximately 50 teams that played between 10-15 games each and that practiced as often as field availability would allow. During the summer, the GSLW sponsors competitive travel teams that play in tournaments and in the Parkway Invitational Softball League ("PISL"), which is a league comprised of teams representing towns in Union, Middlesex, Essex, Morris, and Somerset counties. This summer, we sponsored six summer teams - two 14 & U teams; two 12 & U teams; and two 10 & U teams. Each team consisted of between 12-15 girls, and each team played at least 2-3 games and had 1-2 practices per week during June and July. (Moreover, we sponsor an 18 & U summer travel team for high school girls whenever the demand warrants.) During the fall, the GSLW sponsors travel fall ball as well as fall in-town(subject to field availability). Finally, the GSLW awards yearly scholarships to graduating Westfield High School softball players, and it tries to provide softball educational opportunities. For example, in the past year, the GSLW has provided winter and spring general skills clinics, coaching clinics, pitching clinics, and catching clinics.