DGAL nears the end of its summer season
A player slides to base. Photos by Kat Sheridan
A player runs to first base. 
A player hits the ball. 
A player starts running toward base. 
A cloud of dust as a player scores a run. 
Ready to hit the ball.
A player slides to base. Photos by Kat Sheridan
A player runs to first base.
A player hits the ball.
A player starts running toward base.
A cloud of dust as a player scores a run.
Ready to hit the ball.
The rain may have postponed, but didn’t stop the Dartmouth Girls Athletic League annual softball tournament.
The sudden rain on Friday forced some of the scheduled games from Friday, July 10 to Saturday, July 11. The tournament continued until Sunday, July 12.
During the tournament, DGAL the ages 10 to 14 teams play against other teams from around the Southcoast.
“I like the people I play with and it’s a lot of fun," said Madison Wenson, age 14, “The coaches are all really nice.”
She added, “I grew up playing [softball] and I just really enjoyed it, so I kept pursuing it.”
On Friday and Saturday they play “Pool Play” where each team plays three games before being placed. On Sunday, the winners play bracket style.
Softball season starts in the spring and continues through the end of July. The travel teams end the season at the end of the month, with some of the younger players ending a week or two earlier.
At the end of the season, girls will try out for the 2027 travel team.
“It gives local girls a safe place to play,” said Shannon Espinola, the newly elected Softball Commissioner.
She added, “They have great camaraderie, they make great life-long friendships doing this.”
Espinola was on the team back in the 1990s, and returned when her daughter joined.
“It’s been a lifelong thing for me,” she said.
The team and tournaments are all volunteer-led, with Espinola organizing it. The proceeds raised during the tournament go to supporting the next season.
“The league has continued to grow over the last seven years under the leadership before me, and I just hope I can continue that and keep DGAL growing and driving,” Espinola said.
