Tavern softball league returns to Falls

Play Ball!!!

Tavern Softball League action has returned to Sheboygan Falls this summer, thanks to tavern owners Peter Haase and Rob Koene.

Haase of The Osthelder Saloon and Koene of The Other Place approached the city to request permission to play softball at the city parks on Sunday afternoons.

“I felt that it would be neat to have the bars competing against each other again,” said Haase.

The new league consists of six teams, which have played three games so far this season with two left to go. An overall league champion will be crowned in the fall. Other teams in the league are Franklin House, Falls Tap, HyRyders and The Villager.

All of the seven-inning games feature co-ed teams. The league prohibits walks, with unlimited swings allowed for each batter.

Games are played on the last Sunday of each month.

Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the league consisted of Dale’s Bar (now known as Falls Tap), Franklin House, Ye Olde Corner (now known as The Osthelder Saloon) and the Lassed Knight (now known as Big Jimmy’s).

After the Falls league folded, The Villager team moved on to play in the Adell League.

Many other Falls teams played in the Adell League, including Mike Akright Auto Parts, S&R Bar I and II, Sideline Sports and The Point, just to name a few.

“This brings back a lot memories of the original league,” said Koene. “Some of the old players could still play today. It’s a lot of fun.”

“We’re having a lot of good times with fun competition between the bar owners and it brings some business back to us,” said Sherry “Speedy” Hitsman, co-owner of Franklin House.

So far, Franklin House and The Osthelder have the early edge for the league championship. The next games are scheduled for Sunday, August 30.