The Bashers Are Back!

When the pandemic hit in 2020, the Bashers, Triangle’s Special Olympics softball team, had to call off their season. Normally, every spring and summer, program participants from different Triangle sites come together for weekly practices and a yearly tournament. The laughter, exercise, and friendships are a huge part of the season for both staff and participants. Thankfully, to the delight of everyone, the Bashers will be able to resume with an altered season and precautions in place this year.

Dawn F., the Bashers Head Coach, has been leading the team for several years. She loves the smiles of the players and coaches and the love of the game. Dawn said that it is important to play after dealing with the pandemic. She noted that playing softball is a favorite pastime for the players and that getting back on the field is a much needed boost after missing last year.

The Bashers practices and games will also feel different this season because of the loss of Coach Al DeMinico, who passed away in 2020. As a Bashers coach for 10 years, he will be missed by players and fellow coaches alike. The season won’t be the same without his usual encouragement and enthusiasm.

Normally, the Bashers season runs from May to August and culminates with the Special Olympics Tournament in Marlborough. This year, the season will begin in early June and end in August without any tournaments. The weekly practices will require masks, social distancing, and each player must arrange their own transportation. There will be COVID-19 screening and temperature checks before each practice in order to ensure the safety of everyone.

One player, Steven W., expressed his enthusiasm for the Bashers season restarting: “This is exciting and will be a great season to get out and play! I can’t wait to play this year.”