With its spring season just around the corner, the America’s Finest City Softball League (AFCSL) is kicking off its 2004 season with a fundraiser at Hamburger Mary’s this Saturday from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Proceeds from the fundraiser, which will include a beer bust and 50/50 raffle, will go towards the league’s bid on the 2005 Gay Softball World Series.

“The league is very excited about our bid to bring the World Series back to San Diego,” Martin Cherrier, AFCSL Marketing Director, told the Gay and Lesbian Times. “San Diego last hosted the Series in 1997. It was, and is still, considered one of the best Series to date. We know there will be high expectations this time around. Yet, we are confident that with the support of the community and our generous sponsors we will only improve on the successes from the ’97 Series.”

More than 150 teams attended the 2003 World Series in Washington D.C., which also drew major corporate sponsors such as Miller Lite. This year’s series is scheduled to be held in Dallas, TX. In addition to being a world-class softball tournament, the series is also a boon to the local economy, filling up hotels and packing bars with an influx of close to 5,000 players and fans for the week-long competition.

The AFCSL is also gearing up for the 2004 season, which is scheduled to start in early March. Teams have already begun forming, and new players are invited to attend one of the four scheduled clinics to get rated so they can be placed on a team at the appropriate skill level.

“The clinics are for new and/or inexperienced players,” said Open Division Membership Director Scott Sleeman. “The purpose of the clinics is to evaluate the throwing, catching, and hitting skills of the players and then place them in the proper division. We welcome both men and women, straight and gay, to participate.”

New player clinics will be held at Hourglass Park in Mira Mesa on Jan. 11 and 25, and Feb 1 and 15. Players should report to the fields at 8:30 a.m. to check in and will need to bring a glove and cleats.

With over 1,000 members, the AFCSL is one of the nation’s largest gay softball leagues and is the biggest recreational softball league in San Diego County. To learn more about the league, or for directions to Hourglass Park, where clinics are being held, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com and click on this story for a link to the AFCSL’s website.