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The Surf and Sun Softball League provides members of the Long Beach/ Orange County GLBT community an opportunity to participate in the game of softball in an atmosphere of non-discrimination and friendship. We offer both Men’s (Open) and Women’s divisions, and all levels of competition within both, teams for the very skilled (competitive) to those who have never played before.

For the inexperienced novice this is especially important, as meeting new people and having fun while learning to play is one of our primary goals. Don’t be shy, as we have new teams forming all the time, and the call for players, at all levels, and in both divisions, is on going.

We offer two playing seasons: one in the Spring, which is far more structured and competitive, and an Autumn cycle known as Fall Ball, which is less structured. Fall Ball includes instructional clinics for those who are just beginning their athletic experience and learning to play the game for the first time.

We host the Liberty Classic softball tournament annually which is held during the 4th of July holiday, in Huntington Beach, Ca. Your participation is greatly appreciated, and we welcome your input and energy.

LB/ OC Surf and Sun have been a member of the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) since 1983, and have sent representative teams to the Gay World Series for over 24 years. The Alliance currently consists of 53 member cities throughout the USA and Canada, and thousands of individual players in the Open division.

LB/ OC Surf and Sun is also a member of ASANA, Amateur Sports Alliance of North America, since 2007. ASANA consists of 26 member cities throughout the USA and Canada, with hundreds of individual players within the Women's division.

Surf and Sun Softball has proudly served the Long Beach/ Orange County GLBT community for a quarter of a century. We look forward to having you in our league and becoming part of our future, as together we continue to build Surf and Sun Softball into one of the finest institutions in the LB/ OC community.

Providing an safe, comfortable environment for gay softball in Long Beach and Orange County for nearly 25 years. While many of us simply play for fun, our affiliation with NAGAAA (North American Gay Amateur Athletics Alliance) allows teams in our league to participate in the World Series Tournament. We offer all levels of play ranging from Beginner to Advanced. Softball is a great place to make new friends in a recreational and athletic setting. Our players come from all areas of Southern California, not solely the gay communities, We are most definitely “straight friendly” and welcome all diversities. Our goal is to provide a gay-friendly atmosphere for softball players and their fans. We hope to see you on the fields!

Quick Facts:

* Who: Mostly gay, but straight players are allowed!
* What: Softball ­ Open and Women's Divisions, 3 levels of play each.
* Where: Play is at Mile Square Park (link to fields page).
* When: We offer both spring (March through July) and fall (Sept through Dec) seasons .
* Why: To have fun, meet people, and go to the World Series.



Gay Softball got a staggered start in the Long Beach area. In 1978, four teams gathered to play organized ball, but those initial efforts faded resulting in no formal play for the next two years. In 1981 a dedicated group of athletes formed a league with six teams and we have been playing every year since then.

Initially, the organization started out as the Southwest Athletic Team Supports (SWATS) Surf and Sun Softball League, but in 1983 joined with the well respected North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA). In 1985 the league held its first tournament held on the Fourth of July weekend and appropriately named the Surf and Sun Liberty Classic. The tournament has been played every year since with great success. The Liberty Classic is over 20 years old and going strong!

Ready to expand due to increased interest, we added the Women's Division in the early 1990s. Later that decade we changed our name again to the Long Beach / Orange County Surf and Sun Softball League. This change was made to better define the area that most of our league members call home. In 2001, the league added another tournament called the Cranberry Cup to its schedule. This tournament was played over the Thanksgiving weekend. The Cranberry Cup only made 2 appearances, but was a precursor to what was to come in 2005. The California Quake rumbled into Palm Springs to fill the need for a local fall tournament.

The future of Surf and Sun Softball looks brighter with each passing season. As more athletes dedicate their time and energy to the league, the quality of play increases as does the amount of fun for everyone involved. We anticipate a successful future with a committed board of directors working diligently on behalf of the league and players. We are ardently pursuing the task of converting to a true non-profit status to attract more and bigger sponsors to our league.