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Trevor Buchanan proposes two-division spring adult softball league at Nettles
Summary
Organizer Trevor Buchanan told the Pratt committee he would run a spring adult softball league at Nettles with open and recreational divisions for players 16 and older, a $350 team fee, and that his group would handle insurance, umpires and operations while the city would provide fields and lights; the committee asked for a flyer and contact details for possible city council review.
Trevor Buchanan told the Pratt committee he plans to organize a spring adult softball league at Nettles that would split teams into two divisions to keep newer or church teams from being overwhelmed by advanced tournament squads.
Buchanan, who said he has played at Nettles for close to 20 years, proposed an upper (open/competitive) division and a lower (recreational) division, with managers responsible for signing rosters so players cannot appear on more than one team. “Softball’s died off so much around us and it’s kind of hard to watch… I just want to breathe life back into it,” Buchanan said.
The organizer proposed the league be open to players age 16 and older and recommended shifting signups into February with a late-March season start to avoid losing college-age players in May. He told the committee the league would recruit teams from Clemson, Anderson, Easley and nearby towns and could grow from about a dozen teams to as many as 25 if both Nettles fields were available.
On operations, Buchanan said his group would assume most responsibilities: collecting team fees, paying umpire fees and insurance, and managing nightly supervision. He named Michael (noted in the discussion as the UIC) as an umpire contact and said his organization would work with the city on field lining and lights. “I’ll pay the insurance and all that stuff,” Buchanan said, and added he would be on site most nights and has co-organizers to cover absences.
Buchanan proposed a $350 team entry fee to cover balls, lights and field maintenance; he said that rate aligns with comparable leagues in the region. He described roster and managerial procedures—one manager signs a team and that manager submits one payment—rather than splitting payments per player.
Committee members pressed on publicity and city coordination. Buchanan said he planned to advertise primarily through social media and a league page but acknowledged some residents might lack social media accounts; the group suggested the city could route inquiries to his contact or include a short notice in city communications if approved. The committee asked Buchanan to prepare a one-page flyer with the league name, contact details, division descriptions, payment instructions and an option for individuals to request placement on teams—materials the committee could review and potentially bring to city council for broader approval.
Members also asked about conduct and alcohol. Buchanan said spectators would be asked to keep drinking away from the play area and that league staff would enforce conduct rules; he emphasized supervision and a no-tolerance approach for behaviors that would endanger children or players.
No formal motion or vote on the proposal took place at the workshop. Committee members encouraged Buchanan to return with the requested flyer and registration details; the meeting closed after routine calendar and staffing items.
