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registers 350 youngsters for its spring season had less than 160 sign ups this year. And the local girls' fast-pitch soball rec league in Holyoke had half as many teams as it normally does for its spring season. As a result, Frey remains concerned that the pandemic continues to negatively impact interest by children in playing sports. "Kids didn't play organized sports in 2020 and it was modified in 2021," she says, and once their habits change it is tough to get back to pre-pandemic interest levels. "Kids just aren't playing sports." Another issue that has negatively impacted sales for Holyoke Sporting Goods is a reluctance for teams to visit a brick-and-mortar store, unless they have to do so. "Because of the pandemic, people are now used to buying online rather than walking into a retail store to buy what they need," says Frey. On the flip side, though, she adds that "in some cases, people will order a product online, see that it has not arrived on time, cancel the online order and then walk into my store to buy that item." Big Score In Tennessee Despite the ongoing pandemic-related chal- lenges, it was still a banner year for diamond sports sales for Team Sports Outfitters, in Bristol, TN. "It was a very big year for baseball and soball sales," reports owner Chris Horner. "Everybody – high schools, youth leagues and travel teams – bought new uniforms and equipment this season." And that strong season came about despite the ongoing supply chain issues. Horner says his ability to deliver product on time to teams was negatively impacted by the inability to get the basic necessities. "It was tough, at times, getting new uniforms because of supply chain issues," Horner says. The same lament is heard in southern Indiana, where participation in baseball and fast-pitch soball was steady and sales strong for Kratz Sporting Goods in Clarksville. But they would have been even stronger if more product had been available to sell. Under normal circumstances, Kratz sells uniforms, headwear, baseballs, catcher's gear, batting helmets, cleats and bats — but these were not normal circumstances. "We're still fighting that supply chain animal," says owner Allen Krebbs. "We've had trouble getting footwear and other products, including basic items such as white cotton T-shirts." e bulk of his baseball and fast-pitch soball business is to high school and travel teams. Both operate on a different scale, economically. "What's trending is that many high schools are relying on booster clubs to help pay for items, whereas travel teams are buying three of everything for every player each year — three new uniforms, three hats, three pairs of socks," says Krebbs. Diamond Battles in Battle Creek Baseball and fast-pitch soball were finally back for the Spring 2022 season in Battle Creek, MI, which is great news for Jack Pearl's Sports Center. "Baseball and girls' fast-pitch soball are fully back, which has been huge for us," says sales rep Tom Vanwienen. "Everybody came back to play ball." For Jack Pearl's Sports Center, its biggest clients are the local recreational leagues and it also sells baseball and fast-pitch soball to high schools and travel teams. e only issue that Jack Pearl's had this past spring was getting more inventory. "We sold everything we had and couldn't get any more. Teams were buying everything we had in inventory," Vanwienen adds, pointing to the difficulty in getting enough catchers' equipment in particular. Adding to the challenge was that many high schools decided not to buy uniforms for baseball and fast-pitch soball since they have hardly been used the last two years. On the other hand, travel teams buy packs for every player that contain two pairs of socks, two pairs of pants, two hats, two uniforms, practice gear and a bat bag. "Looking back, the travel teams played through COVID," Vanwienen says. "ose teams traveled south of Michigan and found tournaments to play in Indiana and Ohio." Meanwhile, in Cedar Falls, IA, Iowa Sports Supply was able to sell baseball and fast-pitch soball products for the last three years as if the pandemic never existed. at's because in that state high school baseball and fast-pitch soball are always played in the summer and, based on orders from the Iowa governor, it was deemed safe and in the best interests of student-athletes to play their high school games the past two summers. As a result, "it's been a good couple of years of sales in baseball and fast-pitch soball for us," says Alex Oakland, a sales rep at Iowa Sports Supply. e baseball and fast-pitch soball clients run the gamut for Iowa Sports Supply — local recreational leagues, high school teams, travel teams and a few local colleges. "We sell everything in baseball and soball," says Oakland. "We always try to get what the customer orders, even if we don't normally carry that item. We have even sold a few big- ticket items this year such as batting cages and pitching machines." Also in the Midwest, it was a strong spring for baseball and fast-pitch soball for Red Weir Athletic Supplies in Columbia, MO. "We sell about everything in baseball and soball," says Jay Johnson, sales rep/retail manager. "We sell baseballs, soballs, bats, gloves, uniforms, eye black, hats, ball buckets, lineup cards, batting helmets and scorebooks — but no footwear." Sounding a familiar tune, Johnson reports that sales were back to normal, but would have been better if the supply chain turnaround times were better. n 56 • September/October 2022 sportstyle • sportstylemag.com TEAM / BASEBALL & SOFTBALL

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