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They’re a softball team that is aptly named. The ‘Chuggers,’ after all, have worked very hard the last few years to improve their skills and, as a result, enjoy better results on the diamond. In fact, in a few shorts seasons they have drastically climbed their way up the standings.
“We saw what made successful teams good, and we recruited some new players and worked very hard to climb from last place in 2016 to an ‘A’ division team with only one loss all year at Slo-Pitch City in Dorchester,” says Chris Pace, an original member of the Chuggers.
The team first formed in 2015, playing slo-pitch in the Forest City Sport and Social Club (FCSSC) 3-pitch league. Looking for a bigger challenge, they moved to the Co-Ed league at Dreamers the following year. They currently play on Friday nights in Dorchester.
“A lot of us are lifelong friends who have played sports together since we were very young,” says Pace. “Some of our newer recruits are women we’ve met through slo-pitch and the slo-pitch community.”
And what are the team’s strengths? They possess a lot of speed on the basepaths, and they’ve improved a great deal on defense, playing smoother and smarter when executing plays.
“We’re always trying to improve in the fundamentals of the game,” says Pace. “Hitting cut-offs, taking the easy out, and taking what the defense gives us, for example.”
Pace says that while the team has grown a lot together and improved, he believes there is still a lot of room to get better and compete with the top teams. But he’s confident they can get there. And on the way, he’s certain there will be a lot of fun.
“We thoroughly enjoy being around each other,” Pace says. “At tournaments, league games, or even during off-season batting practice, our team is made up of friends who spend a lot of time together. It’s fun to win with this group, and it’s fun to spend summers getting better together.”
Contributions by Chris Pace
