A Letter from the Commissioner

My oldest daughter started playing CBFO Softball when she was 5, seventeen years ago.  My family attended all of the games for two seasons and introduced our twin daughters to the program when they turned 5.  I watched my girls progress through the different leagues for seven years and during this time I developed a true love for the program.   Eight years ago I was asked to assume the role as commissioner of the program and I was thrilled with the opportunity.  In fact, my love for the program had now become a passion.  I assembled a few people, mostly coaches, and shared a vision that I had for CBFO Softball.  When I was growing up in the 50's and 60's, there were very few sports programs for girls and through the years many were developed but most took a back seat to boy's programs.  This was discussed at length in our first board meeting and we all agreed that we had every reason to have a program for girls that would be as good  if not better than any sports program for boys or girls.  We developed our mission statement that day and we still live by it eight years later.  "To make CBFO Girls Softball the very best that it can be."  We faced many challenges in the beginning as we needed to improve our facilities in many ways and add some amenities that would make our program more fun for the girls.  I was inspired by the Kevin Costner movie, "The Field of Dreams" and the theme in the movie, "Build it and they will come".  The things that I wanted to do cost money and we had a very limited budget, but I was able to convince the CBFO main board that these things were necessary if we wanted to really be what we could be.  I started talking about fences for the outfield, PA systems, paved parking lots, and many other projects that I wanted to do.  I got stares and glares from most of the board members but I was allowed a budget to start adding some of these things.  We could not accomplish everything the first year so we decided to try our best to add something new each year and build our facilities over times.  Most of our original projects have now been completed, but we can't stop here.  This program is an evolving project and we still are committed to continue to improve and we must keep this in the forefront of our vision or we will fall behind.  I am very pleased that our efforts were successful as our program has grown from 227 players in 2000 to 350 players in 2008 and we are now the largest program for girls in all of East Tennessee.

Facilities are important, but there is much more to CBFO Girls Softball.  We are a recreational program open to all girls between the ages of 5 and 19 regardless of ability.  We have coaches who are committed to teaching the game and helping girls develop skills that will help them play a game most of their lives if they choose.  There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a new player who has worked hard get her first hit, or catch her first fly ball, and do it in front of a large crowd of people.  The smile on her face is truly priceless.  In addition to teaching the game of softball, we are committed to teaching lessons about life as well.  Organized sports programs parallel life's challenges in many ways and we understand this.  We teach being part of a team and a team player, making sacrifices for the team, learning how to lose and being humble winners, and always doing your best.  We also believe in family values and providing and environment where children, youth, and adults can come and have fun without drugs and alcohol.  We hope that these lessons will help our girls prepare for the life that is in front of them and pass to their children as well. If we stay committed to our mission statement, generations to come will benefit and our community will be a better place.  This is what CBFO Girls Softball is all about. 

If you are not part of our program yet, I hope you will consider introducing daughter(s) to our program, and remember it is never too late to start as long as the player is between the ages of 5 and 19.  We have a nice place for you, a wholesome environment where you can sit in a lawn chair on a nice spring evening, eat a hot dog, listen to some music, and share your daughter's excitement when she hits her first hit, or catches her first fly ball.  Sign-ups are in January and February each year at the fields located 11609 Northshore Drive.  I hope to see you next year

Don Hutcheson

Commissioner

CBFO Softball