With two outs on the board, one of the Dartmouth Girls Athletic League softball teams knew they were one out away from winning their second game of opening day on Sunday, Sept. 8.

And with the crack of the bat, the final ball of the game was airborne — until Sophia Reyes, 11, jumped down, sliding through the dirt to complete what many would have called a miraculous catch. 

“I didn’t think I was going to make that,” Reyes said, after celebrating the double victory with her team. 

In her third year of playing softball, Reyes said she was feeling good about the start of the season, adding how the fielding and “motivation from my parents” are what keeps her so engaged in the sport.

Softball Commissioner Brian Thomas agreed the start of the fall ball season has been successful. 

He said the league typically has less athletes in the fall, but this year, with 102 players, 

“That always bodes well for the spring,” Thomas said, highlighting how fall ball aims to teach the kids, allow them to have fun and build confidence in preparation for a more competitive spring season. 

He added based on current participation, the league hopes to get 200 girls in the spring.

More athletes means more coaches and while the league has an “great group” of established parent coaches, Thomas said the league needs to do more about engaging parents with younger children again “because once they start, they usually don't stop. They just keep coming up with the girls as they get older.”

Thomas said coaching is a “thankless job” and he wanted to show his appreciation for all of the volunteers of the league.

“They’ve given up their weekends to do it for the girls, and all of them are in there for the right reasons,” he said.

With the league continuing to grow, the issue of space to play has been coming up more often. 

“Don't get me wrong, the school department has been phenomenal with us being able to use the Quinn School year after year, but it makes it tougher to run,” he said, adding how the league would like to eventually get a space of its own.

But in the meantime, the league is making the most with what they have and the girls are still able to enjoy their fall ball season.

Sophia Perry, 12, and Raquel Esterella, 12, said they were feeling good about the start of softball season, especially with having won both their games alongside Reyes.

Perry said she’s most looking forward to “being on the same team as Raquel.”

And the two weren’t the only ones excited at spending the fall with their friends.

Emma Doyle, 13, said she’s been playing softball the last four years and her favorite part is still meeting new people, adding that’s what keeps her coming back.

Her sister, Eva Doyle, 11, said for her,  “I like the fun and when you feel like you’re down and you haven’t hit it, you can just rise up and get a hit.”