Baseball season is almost here, and this year, Winkler’s diamonds will welcome a brand-new initiative designed just for women. "Ladies Night at the Ball Park," a relaxed, women-only slo-pitch league, is set to launch Friday, May 9th. One of the organizers, Maggie Fehr, says the goal is simple: “We just had to try something where we could bring women together.”
Fehr, who has played slo-pitch most of her life, says the league is all about inclusivity and community. “There’s no pressure. It’s really for anybody to just come and enjoy the game,” she explains.
From tournament fun to local league
The idea came to life after Fehr and two fellow slo-pitch players, Suzi Giesbrecht and Maddi Hofer, participated in a women’s tournament last fall. “We had so much fun, and we just thought, ‘This is great.’ We’ve never really had the chance to play with all women since we were kids,” says Fehr. That spark of excitement turned into action, as the trio recognized both the passion for the game and the community resources that could bring it to life.
“We’ve got such great facilities in Winkler and so many people that love the game,” she adds. “We figured—we’ve got to do this.”
Friday nights at the diamond
Finding time and space was one of the biggest hurdles. With diamonds fully booked during the week for minor ball and the existing co-ed slo-pitch league, Fehr says Friday nights were the only real option. “Even then, there are a few Fridays where festivals or tournaments will bump us out, but most Fridays throughout spring, summer, and fall we’ll be out here,” she says.
The league is intentionally low-pressure and drop-in friendly. “We’ll start at 7:00 every Friday, and it’ll be a $5 drop-in rate,” says Fehr. “You can come out as much or as little as you like.”
All skill levels welcome
Fehr emphasizes that the league is open to all women, regardless of experience. “No skill level is required—just a love for the game,” she says. “We found that a lot of women are hesitant to join co-ed leagues because of the competitiveness. Some are shy to play with men, worried about letting the team down. This is going to be very relaxed.”
Even those who’ve never played before are welcome. “If you’ve just watched and think it looks fun, come try it. There’s no judgment here.”
A chance to build friendships
Beyond the game, Fehr sees this as a space for women to connect. “Women in baseball are very encouraging. When you get a big group together, they’re really supportive of one another,” she says. “If you’re a mom who doesn’t get out much, or even if your kids are older—you can bring them along, there’s a big park here—they can play while you get out and meet people.”
Fehr adds that even among her own longtime co-ed team, the friendships have gone far beyond the field. “We’ve had the same team for many years. We have bonfires together every year. My team are all really good friends—and my husband’s on my team too,” she laughs. “We didn’t meet that way, but we’ve played together for 20 years.”
Get involved
Women interested in joining can follow “Ladies Night at the Ball Park” on Facebook and Instagram or email the organizers at ladiesnightattheballpark@outlook.com.
The only thing you need to bring? “A glove would be great,” Fehr says. “We have bats, balls, and even a couple of extra gloves if someone needs one.” As for attire, she recommends sweatpants, a hoodie, maybe a ball cap—and sneakers if you don’t have cleats.
“Come out, swing a bat, make a friend, and have fun,” Fehr smiles. “That’s what this is all about.”