by Sam Peddycord

Many collegiate athletes have one thing in common: an extreme competitive drive. They play in college, and they train harder than they ever have in their lives. It is more than a full-time job for them, and it is essentially their livelihood. What do many of these college baseball players at Greensboro do once their career is over? There is one answer for that – slow pitch softball.  

Slow pitch softball contains the exact same competitive drive and basic set of rules as baseball, with only some minor differences. These differences include underhand pitching, shorter fences and shorter bases. It is faster paced than baseball with a lot more action. The trend of local slow-pitch softball leagues being filled with former college baseball players has done nothing but skyrocket. A couple of current baseball players here at GC were asked about their plans for continuing to fulfill that competitive drive in them once their life as a baseball player is complete.  

When Greensboro College baseball senior pitcher Dylan Ward was asked about his life after baseball and how he will still get that sports fix in, he said, “Although my time in baseball is winding down, my competitive edge and love for the game is never-ending, and I wholeheartedly plan on pursuing a future career in slow pitch men’s softball after my time on the diamond is done.” 

Another senior, Jake Baldini, with just one season left in the tank had this to say: “After I am done playing college baseball, I still want to be active and continue to play sports. I have been competitive my whole life and being active will also fill that void of not playing baseball anymore.” 

You can find local softball leagues playing every single night of the week. There are leagues playing in Greensboro and hosting tournaments on the weekends. The town of Kernersville hosts two different leagues during spring and fall every year, playing on Monday and Wednesday nights. You can find tournament softball being played every weekend all over the state, as well. For these future retired college athletes, getting on a team will be no issue. 

There seems to be a common theme with these players. They seem to really want to fill that void that retiring from playing Greensboro College baseball will give them. When Baldini was asked about his time to move on he said, “I know this will be my last ride. It’s a bittersweet experience.” There is one thing for certain, no matter how bittersweet the experience is for these guys ending their careers, you will be able to catch a majority of them at a slow-pitch softball field somewhere in the area next summer. Keep your eyes out.