By Softball EXCO 2024-2025

What is softball? To some, it is a niche sport akin to baseball. To others, it is a puzzling sport where the ball isn’t actually soft. To us, softball is a sport that brings us immense joy while uniting different groups of people. 

The beauty of softball lies in the game itself— the resounding crack of the bat as the ball launches off the ‘sweet spot’ or the satisfying feeling of the ball finding your glove. This complex and ever-evolving game stimulates us intellectually beyond just the adrenaline rush of hitting a good strike or fielding a short hop. 

The camaraderie and friendship one find in softball is also unparalleled. The game requires teamwork and synergy: it’s not about the individual players, but how they can come together to accomplish greatness. Through productive training sessions on Mondays (4-7pm), Wednesdays (3-6 pm) and Saturdays (8-1130am) followed by post-training hangouts and dinner; the team is brought closer together, forming tight bonds on and off the field. 

In addition to friendly matches throughout the year, Raffles Softballers partake in two key events annually. The first is the Softball Carnival, hosted by the Softball Recreational Club in March, and the second, the National School Games (NSG) which is held in April. This NSG season, the A Division Boys emerged victorious after a closely contested final and defended their championship title with a 7-6 win. The A Division Girls dominated the group stages but fell short after a 1-2 loss in the final and achieved first runners-up. Due to the short runway of the A Division season and the competitive nature of the sport, prior experience is required to join the sport.

For us, softball is our home, where we seek comfort and have fun after a tiring day of school. If the challenge and the prospect of forging lifelong friendships intrigue you, why not give softball a try?