by Ryan Harlow
Prescott has seen it all when it comes to softball from fast pitch championship tournaments for adults and youth and recreational leagues for the community to the many icons of the sport who have played on the dusty diamonds of Everyone’s Hometown.
In 2008, Prescott even saw the USA Women’s Olympic team play a game on the storied grounds of Ken Lindley Field.
Over the years softball has emerged as a beloved pastime, weaving itself into the fabric of Prescott’s history. To this day, softball is still a big part of the city’s identity. From humble beginnings to thriving leagues and tournaments, it’s no wonder that Prescott is often referred to as The Softball Capital of Arizona.
Softball has been in Prescott almost since the time the city was founded in 1864. Back then, it was just a recreational game for community members who enjoyed getting together and playing in the open spaces and parks. Over the years the sport has evolved and grown significantly.
Today Prescott offers 17 recreational adult softball leagues (more than 85 teams) and hosts 13 youth and adult softball tournaments annually. Additionally, the Prescott Girls Softball Association offers a youth fast pitch league, and the community’s retirees can keep playing, all thanks to the Senior Softball League at Pioneer Park.
Prescott also is one of the few places left in the country that offers a fast pitch league for adults.
For anyone wishing to learn more about the history of the game, a trip to the Arizona Softball Hall of Fame is a must. The Grace Sparkes Activity Center became the home of the Arizona Softball Hall of Fame in 2005. Here is where stories and pictures of Arizona’s softball legends, icons and pioneers of the game can be found.
What you won’t find there, at least not yet, are the many future stars who are shaping their own legacies on Prescott’s ball fields every season. We encourage every sports enthusiast to visit the Arizona Softball Hall of Fame where you can spend some time immersed in softball history and Prescott’s contribution to the beloved sport.
