Family Traditions

As the CSSA Board continues to build out the proposed new Thursday Evening league, we’d like to provide a quick update to those who may be interested in playing.

• First, we will follow the highly effective model used by Marty Aftewicz when he built the now very successful “Dreamers” league. Therefore, for the Fall 2024 Season, the new Thursday Evening league will be played as weekly scrimmage game(s), prior to moving forward and formalizing the new league. That way, we can accurately gauge interest in the new league, determine the skill level for the new league, and search for a prospective League Director and Team Managers.
• We continue to look for someone to lead the weekly game(s) and we are actively finalizing a location for the weekly scrimmages, potentially either Hobgood Park or Skip Wells Park. We anticipate the weekly scrimmage(s) to start at 7:00 pm and 8:15 pm, assuming there are enough players for two games.
• Currently, the intended skill level to qualify for this league is for those players participating in the “Masters”, “Legacy”, and “Gold Legends” leagues.
• However, as we progress with the Fall Season scrimmages, we will look at the response at each skill level, and then, if/when the league starts in the Spring of 2025, we’ll adjust and finalize the maximum skill level to fill at least four teams.
• As a reminder, the current Thursday evening “Skip Wells” league is geared towards those players who play in the Tuesday evening “Patriots” league.

More specific details on how to register for the weekly scrimmage game(s) will be shared as we get closer to starting the games, probably about the second or third week of the regular Fall Season.

Stay tuned for more information!

After a weather cancellation on Saturday, July 20th, we had a very successful New Player Evaluation on Sunday Evening, with approximately 15 players attending! We look forward to two more successful and well-attended sessions this weekend, Saturday, July 27th and Sunday July 28th …

As a REMINDER, the last two sessions are scheduled for:

Saturday, July 27th, from 9:00 am – 11:00 am and Sunday, July 28th, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm …
at Field #4 at Hobgood Park, located at the corner of Bells Ferry Road and Towne Lake Parkway in Woodstock, Georgia.

CLICK BELOW FOR A MAP TO Hobgood Park Softball Fields:
https://www.cssasoftball.us/photo_albums/151186-Fall-2-24-photo-album/album_photos/6371385

With approximately 450 members ranging in age from 49-90, and with eight leagues and 46 teams, we have a league that fits every ability level. There are leagues playing at Hobgood Park on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings, as well as Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. We also have a league playing Thursday nights at Skip Wells Park off Bells Ferry Road in Marietta. Players can be in several leagues if schedules/abilities permit. All men and women are welcome to join!

Many of our new members haven’t played softball for thirty years before joining our organization. All new player evaluations are based on abilities, and not ages. CSSA softball is more fun than you can imagine, with a ten-week Spring Season and a ten-week Fall Season, weekly stats and standings posted here on our website, awesome new jerseys, and a year-end awards banquet.

If you are interested in playing, please show up at any of the evaluation dates / times; try to arrive about 15 minutes prior to the start time to register! Also, if you know of anyone who would be interested in playing, let them know about the evaluations. Fees for the 10-week Fall Season are only $55.00; please bring an I.D. and a credit / debit card (or cash) to pay fees on evaluation day.

So come on out to evaluations and get ready for some great recreation and camaraderie.

As a reminder, games will start the week of August 5th, – weather permitting!

For more information, please call 770-400-9121 or email nthiem@aol.com

It is with sadness that the CSSA Family shares the news of the passing of Shirley Mae Brown (wife of Carl) after a lengthy illness.

All of us in the CSSA send our deepest condolences to Carl and his Family.

Below is a link to the obituary.
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/cartersville-ga/shirley-brown-11893637

The meeting of the CSSA Board of Directors was held Monday, June 10th, 2024, at Wicked
Wings, Kennesaw, and called to order by Norman Thiem at 6:35 P.M.

Board Members Present: Norman Thiem, Maria Burden, Mike Maguire, Paul Markley, Dick
O’Connor, Mike Parson, Marty Aftewicz, John Humeston, Robbie Crider, Dan Bonham, and Ray
DeLuca.

Board Members Dewey Hom, Steve Fleming, Randy Bergman, and James Bauch were absent.
Thomas White and Mike Wootton were visitors.

A. Guests Introduced
B. Minutes of the May 6, 2024 Meeting were Board approved.
C. Treasurer Report: Mike Maguire presented a report with details of balances,
outstanding sponsor fees (three still unpaid), request for total number of 80 Up CSSA
players so he can move player fee funds into operations account from charity account,
golf tournament fees received to-date, status of the Hobgood storage shed (now
complete), tax status, supplies needed. The board voted to purchase a post office box to
receive all correspondence and any checks. He also presented a profit and loss
statement with comparison to the previous year. The statement was Board approved.
D. Sponsor Update: Ray DeLuca discussed current sponsors and those returning for the
fall season. Donovans wants to return as a sponsor.
E. Banquet: Ray DeLuca had no new updates for the November 19th, 2024 banquet at this
time.
F. June Charity Golf Tournament Reminder: There are 16 foursomes for the tournament.
It takes place Monday, June 17th, 2024 is this year’s CSSA Summer Charity Fundraising
Golf Tournament at Fairways of Canton Golf Course, 400 Laurel Canyon Parkway,
Canton. REGISTRATION CUTOFF DATE was extended so fees could continue to be
collected online. Register and pay fees at http://www.cssasoftball.us/
Prizes will be awarded for:
1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place teams,Closest to Pin, Longest Drive, Hole-in-One, and
Putting Contest. Available for purchase per player will be 1 Red Bomb for $10.00, 2
Mulligans for $5.00 each and 2 Strings for $5.00 each.
Check-in: 8:00 a.m. and Shotgun Start: 9:00 a.m.
Fees: $90.00/person and $360.00 /foursome BUFFET LUNCH INCLUDED
CONTACT TOM CAMERON FOR MORE INFORMATION: (404) 918-0500
CSSA Visors will be for sale at the tournament as well.
G. Board Member Search Committee: Ray DeLuca, Dewey Hom, Mike Maguire and Paul
Markley have been working on new board members to fill Board of Director positions that
will be opening up soon. Paul Markley will take over as CSSA Secretary as Maria
Burden will be leaving that position after the June meeting. Paul Markley requested
descriptions of all Board position duties as soon as possible.
H. League Director Position: Paul Markley presented a detailed description of the League
Director duties and responsibilities, guidelines, and time requirements.
I. Dreamer League Expo Game and 80s Up Inductions: Marty Aftewicz gave a report on
the Dreamer League event which was a huge success. He invited a group of seniors
from local senior living communities to attend a game and see the induction ceremony
for four new honored 80s Up members of the CSSA organization: Mr. Perkins, Mr.
Stewart, Mr. Newman and Mr. Knotts. A cookout was held with sponsors pitching in with
food donations to celebrate the occasion. There were raffles, an emcee and guests were
invited to throw out the first pitch in each inning. The event was a great showcase for
CSSA and its role in our community.
J. Fall Thursday Night League at Hobgood Park: Without a commitment from CRPA of
diamond availability for the fall season, the decision whether to go forward with a new
league has been delayed. However, Marty Aftewicz suggested that starting with
Thursday evening pickup games might be a good way to start and gauge the
participation and skill levels of players that come out, as it worked well for establishing
the Dreamers League.
K. Rule Change Requests: Dick O’Connor presented two requests made by individual
players for rule changes, and both were discussed by the Board, but it was decided that
the rules would remain as currently written.
L. Double Elimination Tournament Rules: As no rules currently exist in the CSSA Bylaws
for Double Elimination Tournaments, the Board voted to form a committee to establish
rules for Double Elimination Tournaments. The committee members will be: John
Humeston, Mike Parson, Robbie Crider and Dan Bonham. They will meet and present
proposed rules/guidelines at a future meeting.
M. New Plates: The Board voted to purchase 6 new home plates for the fall season.
N. Fall Evaluations: Fall Evaluations are now scheduled for the last two weekends in July.
To avoid the hottest hours of the day and avoid church hours, the following hours and
dates were suggested: Saturday, July 20th 9-11 a.m., Sunday July 21st 5-7 p.m.,
Saturday, July 27th 9-11 a.m., Sunday, July 28th 5-7 p.m.
O. New League Directors: Thomas White will be the League Director of the Lowell Lawson
League, and Mike Wootton will be the League Director of the Gold Senior League.
P. Summer Pickup Games are Back
Q. Championship Jerseys: League Directors need to turn in orders for these jerseys
ASAP.
The meeting adjourned at 8:41 p.m. The next meeting date and location TBD.

10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 30th at Hobgood Park, join your CSSA community to enjoy a Dreamers League game and honor our intrepid 2024 80s Up Inductees, who are still playing strong! This year’s group includes Mr. Perkins, Mr. Newman, Mr. Stewart and Mr. Knotts, who will be awarded CSSA official 80s Up equipment bags. Also joining us will be a group of seniors invited from our local community to enjoy some fun, raffles, and fellowship with our CSSA players and fans. Senior guests will be tossing out the first pitch of each inning. Hope to see you there!
Pictured here are previous 80s up honorees.