Heavy Metal Softball

A Long-Sought Original Creation Finally Found!!!

For those who are new to our team, Heavy Metal Softball was founded in 1990 by brothers Vernon and Jerry Amaro, with the express purpose of having an athletic outlet to participate in with close friends and family members. Over the years, Heavy Metal Softball has proven to be a consistent winner, in both leagues and tournaments, with several original members still actively playing. In other words, a lot has transpired since that earlier, more naive, time. Most of us then were young, hungry to prove ourselves, and just simply wanted to play softball at a reasonably competitive level, which we did by winning many league championships in a row. As a matter of fact, we didn't lose a league championship until 1996, when we played in a very competitive Division 2 league (when the Tulare Recreation Department actually ranked its divisions). Initially starting in Division 10, we had slowly worked our way up to the higher levels of league play, according to the rules at that time (in contrast to today's Tulare league atmosphere where everyone just pins their team card to a night of choice on the "organization" board!) After 1996, we disbanded a few years for various reasons -- some physical, some directional, some because we were finding new avenues, new circles, to compete in. I, myself, became part of traveling tournament team and, thus, found I had little time for managing my own team. But because I missed that pure, unadulterated love of playing together as a team of just good friends, I started Heavy Metal Softball again in 1999, and we have been having another run of successful good times ever since. Now what does all of this have to do with our original team logo, you say? Well, for me, it all comes down to what the initial intent was for forming our team -- first, spending time with friends and family; second, playing hard for ourselves and each other (remember practices!); and last, seeing how we all would grow, not just team-wise, but eventually as mature men. I guess what I'm trying to say is that this simple -- yet sincere -- hand-drawn logo symbolizes for me my lost youth, a few almost-forgotten old faces, as well as the humble beginnings of what became a real team, and my nostalgic longing to find it was finally fulfilled when my brother e-mailed its image to me quite some time ago. He said that he had found it in a folder of old drawings while cleaning out a desk in his garage. What he didn't know was that he had opened up a doorway to the past, bringing back a more fresh and innocent time for me, and for that, I thank him immensely once again....