Maybe most Sandisfielders don't realize it, but just over the town line in Monterey a long running Sunday morning pick up softball game has been happening for decades.

It's not quite since the Knox Trail era ... but close enough. As soon as the snow melts, the mud dries, and the field becomes playable, the emails start flying and the bats start swinging.

Anyone can play. The roster changes week to week, but the spirit stays the same: everyone is welcome. All ages, all genders, all skill levels. Over the years we've had energetic 12 year olds, seasoned players in their late 80s, and everyone in between.

Batting practice begins at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays. First pitch is a half-hour later, at 10:30. We play April through mid October (and sometimes beyond).

To keep things fun and inclusive, younger kids get to bat at the start of each inning without affecting the score ... a great way to spark the next generation of players. We also mix in occasional home and away games with friendly groups from Copake, New York, and Lakeville, Connecticut.

Come play, cheer, or simply hang out ... everyone is invited this Sunday and every following Sunday, weather permitting. Just swing by the field at Greene Park ... right behind the Monterey Town Hall and the Police Station on Rt 23. Join the fun.

Contact: Jim Stern. email: soundprojim@gmail.com or text (516) 318-9962 for more info and to be added to the email distribution list.

"Base ball matches are getting to be common occurrences," The Berkshire Courier noted in August 1866, "and though the exercise and sport may be invigorating and unexceptionable, we fear the general result among the lads who comprise the clubs is derogatory to their minds and morals...."

That statement alone would serve to recruit more players. Baseball was, and remains, a fun community recreation. Numerous town teams played over the years.

Although none of Sandisfield's historical accounts or news clippings in the scrapbooks mention sports of any sort, it is nevertheless likely that Sandisfielders in the late 19th century cheered on their baseball team.