By Justin Smith | The Selma Times-Journal

The city of Selma is gearing up for a summer kickball season with registration set for June 28 at 6 p.m. at Bloch Park.

Each team will play eight games during the season. The teams are going to be co-ed, and each team is required to pay a $75 registration fee. Every player must be 25 or older in order to participate.

“I feel that a kickball league here in Selma will help build camaraderie within the community,” kickball league organizer Saprina Simmons said. “It helps bring people together that have probably never would have even thought about socializing before.”

Simmons initially put the kickball league into motion. She started by organizing her very own league last night without partnering with the city.

She was surprised with how successful it was and decided that she should work alongside the city to expand the league and its impact.

“We had a blast during my personal kickball league,” Simmons said. “Everybody was out socializing, both kids and adults and that is what its all about.”

Each team is allowed to have no more than 11 players. A team must have at least eight players. Teams must also have men and women on their team.

Every game will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Sundays at Memorial Stadium.

The first game will be played Aug. 6. On July 30, there will be a jamboree that will allow teams to get practice in. This will also be a time when people will get the opportunity to socialize and enjoy food off the grill.

There is going to be a playoff system put into place, but organizers are not sure at the moment how it will operate. The winning team of the playoff will receive a prize that will be announced on a later date.

“I just want everyone to come out and support what we are trying to do,” Simmons said. “We are just trying to provide another way to help bridge the gap.”