New softball league aims to give Cashmere-area women a team of their own

CASHMERE — When Raye Gaston’s mother passed away two years ago, she found herself at a crossroads: return to her hometown on the west side of the mountains, or stay in the Wenatchee Valley community she had grown to love.

She stayed. This spring, that decision is turning into a new opportunity for local women to take the field.

Gaston is organizing the first season of the Women’s Choice League, a slow-pitch softball league designed to bring together players of all experience levels from Cashmere and surrounding communities. An informational meeting is scheduled for March 3, with league play expected to begin in April.

The league is open to women 18 and older. The cost to play is $20 per player, along with a $260 team fee that covers trophies, shirts, scorebooks, insurance and the end-of-season barbecue. Players are asked to bring their own cleats and gloves, and may use a face mask if they choose, though bats and extra equipment are available to borrow. Those interested can attend the March 3 meeting without signing up in advance, and meeting notes will be posted on the league’s Facebook page for anyone unable to attend.

The meeting itself does not have a location yet, but it will be posted soon at https://www.facebook.com/groups/751381831362803/ after Gaston finalizes the details.

“I was inspired to start a new league after my mother passed away two years ago,” Gaston said. “I was probably going to have to move back to Enumclaw where I’m from and start a new league there if the move happened. I decided to stay out here in the Wenatchee-Cashmere area because I love it so much.”

In her years playing in existing leagues, she noticed that many women from smaller towns were missing out.

“In the last five years, I have played with the Apple Valley Softball Association. I did notice there weren’t a lot of women from the surrounding areas of Wenatchee,” she said. “I know it’s a drive for some, but I wanted to make sure it was all inclusive for women in all towns to come out and play. I wanted to make sure that the women out here knew that this was an option.”

The new league is intentionally structured to welcome beginners alongside more experienced players.

“I want the women who’ve never played or haven’t played in years to know that it is a judgment-free zone,” Gaston said. “Every year we have a couple new girls that we all work with to help them improve and create an environment where they feel safe to do so. In this league that we’ve created, there are so many women that are there to help whether it’s batting, catching or even in need of equipment. And it being slow pitch it is a little easier.”

For Gaston, the goal goes beyond the game itself.

“The atmosphere I’m trying to create is a fun and safe one,” she said. “If we’re all gonna meet up once or twice a week and spend some time away from our families, I wanna make sure it’s community focused and an exciting time.”

The season will include an end-of-year barbecue and a draft-style exhibition game, a format Gaston introduced in another league to make sure every player gets a chance to participate.

“They would do an end-of-season MVP game for the ladies, but for a while it was a lot of the same girls getting picked,” she said. “So I decided two years ago that we should make it more of a sign-up draft style so that the girls who don’t get picked get to play as well. The last two years I ran it for the other league and the women love it. They look forward to it every year, as do I.”

She is also planning themed “fun tournament” elements during the season, opportunities for players to dress up, try unconventional rules and step away from the pressure of competition.

“It will help break up the competitive nature that we all have midway through the season to help everybody stay positive and know why we’re all out here, to have fun playing a sport we all love,” she said.

Gaston said she hopes to build something that lasts.

“I’m really looking forward to the beginning of the WCL’s first season,” she said. “I am so dedicated to creating a lasting league with an amazing reputation.”

And in keeping with the spirit of the game that inspired generations of players before them, she added, “In the words of Jimmy Dugan, ‘There’s no crying in baseball’ — but there is a ton of fun, laughter and learning to be had.”

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media