The Dartmouth Girls Athletic League’s fall softball season, or “fall ball,” is more focused on practice and player development than the spring season — but that doesn’t mean it’s been easy to organize.

Commissioners Ryan Rymszewicz and Brian Thomas put “a countless amount of hours” into the league, said Karen Watson, who serves on DGAL’s board of directors. 

“It’s almost like a full time job behind the scenes,” Watson said. “The organization wouldn’t be where it is today without them doing what they do.”

Thomas himself estimates that he spends about 20 hours a week helping with DGAL, in addition to his day job. He said he just likes to see that the girls “have a place to play and to see them enjoy the sport.” 

Taylor Rymszewicz, Ryan’s daughter, has seen that dedication first hand.

“They donate a lot of time, I don’t know many people who do what they do,” she said. “He’s here every single day and if he’s not here, he’s on the phone for it.”

Taylor is now a coach with DGAL, where she played softball growing up. She said fall ball, as opposed to the spring, is more for having fun, bonding with the team and “building confidence.” 

“Confidence … I think is the biggest thing, especially for the girls that don’t play travel [softball],” Taylor said. “It’s just to get that practice in.”

Just three years ago, DGAL had about half the players it does now. The spring season brings out over 130 players, and the fall season has close to 90, Thomas said. They were able to create four teams in both the 10u and 12u divisions this fall.

This is the first year that fall ball will only play against other Dartmouth teams, as nearby towns like Fairhaven and Acushnet did not have enough players to put together their own recreational league. 

The recreational league includes players from Dartmouth’s travel teams, who are split up among the fall ball teams, but still together with their teammates for the most part. 

“They can keep building that rapport together, but playing against each other is a lot of fun for them,” Thomas said. 

Parents supporting their kids at the games Sunday, Oct. 22 said that the fall season allows for a more relaxed, skill-focused experience. 

Lily Weisberg said her daughter plays DGAL softball every season, and appreciates the extra time and practice afforded by the fall season. Her daughter also plays DGAL field hockey, which runs concurrently with fall ball.

Watson said a lot of players end up being “DGAL athletes” that play multiple sports in the organization. 

Christina Reynolds said she likes that fall ball allows players to “relax a little bit” and “work on their skills.”

Shannon Espinola said not counting whether the teams win or lose helps the league stay “low pressure” and “not as intense” as spring or travel seasons. 

As softball and field hockey move into the late season and wrap up, DGAL will get started on sign-ups for its basketball season soon, with the season starting at the beginning of December.