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Field House hosts adult kickball
The first co-ed adult kickball pick-up game kicked off Sunday, May 17, 2009, at the Veterans Memorial Field House.
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HUNTINGTON -- Rene Battista rounded third, headed for home, stomped on the plate and basked in the team glow of scoring the game's first run Sunday afternoon.
Battista was one of two dozen adults who came out to the free pick-up game of kickball Sunday at Woody Williams Field beside Veterans Memorial Field House .
Area adults can also play in free pick-up games at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24, as well. Huntington is gearing up to be the latest city to launch its first WAKA Kickball division -- the WV Jewel City Division. Games will be played at Veterans Memorial Field House every Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. beginning June 7.
"I didn't have any glory days in school," Battista said with a laugh. "I was the nerd, so just doing that was a glory day for me."
The idea to start the league was brought to Huntington by Felix and Cara Cheung, who both played last year on a kickball league in Boston.
They had such a great time playing the games, and then socializing after the games, that they wanted to bring that competitive and community spirit to Huntington.
"An integral part of the league is the social activity," Felix explained to the adults gathered. "We'll meet up at Gino's after the game, and you'll meet up with the team you just played. There's no blood enemies. We emphasize sportsmanship."
The World Adult Kickball Association (WAKA Kickball) started the adult kickball craze in 1998 with the first organized, widespread co-ed adult kickball league. It now has hundreds of divisions in more than 30 states, as well international divisions in London and Iraq.
Players also have an opportunity to enjoy a weekend of fun and excitement at the annual Founders Cup World Kickball Championship in Las Vegas.
Cost to play in the local division is $66 per person, which covers field fees, uniforms, insurance and two parties during the season. To register or for more information, go to www.kickball.com/wvjewelcity. Registration deadline is Tuesday, May 26.
Cara said teams are already signed up from Huntington Middle School, Huntington Steel, MacReedo's Bar, Rent-A-Center and some employees in orthopedics at Cabell Huntington Hospital.
"We want to stress that any company, organization or individuals can sign up and play," Cara Cheung said. "You need 16 to have a team, but if you have seven or eight or if you just want to play, you can merge with another team, or be placed on a team."
Marshall Orthopedics nurse Beth Dial, 26, of Scottown, Ohio, played last weekend and was back again Sunday, although this time to watch.
Dial, who is six months pregnant, said she liked the idea of the kickball league.
"Last week was a lot of fun," Dial said. "Of course, everyone was aiming for me.. We only had about eight, so it's good to come out and see a bunch of people. It's a lot of good, laid-back fun."
