APRIL 1. 2011
sports^
OREGON'S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE
For Walker, the sense of inclusion is what
drives both organizations.
“I get a lot of emails all the time from people
who just want to get active,” says Walker.
“They’re intimidated by coming because either
they’ve never played, or they haven’t played in
years. But we have people who show up that
have never played before and six months later
they’re playing in tournaments.”
Could that next player be you?
For more information on open gyms and tour
nament schedules fo r Portland Gay Volleyball', visit
portlandgayvolleyball.org. For more information
on jo in in g the Portland Gay Basketball Associa
tion, or ifyo u d like to sign up f o r their m ailing list,
em ail PDXBallers@gmail.com.
— R y a n J. P r a d o
Hey, Batta Batta Batta
Rose City Softball Association slides
into 17th season
As team sports go, few would argue the lei
surely allure of softball. The arc of the red-and-
white orb toward home plate, the clang of the
aluminum bat, the dash toward first base to try
and beat a cross-diamond throw—these are
competitive highlights ingrained in the collec
tive athletic psyche. W ith the popularity of the
sport being a secret to almost no one, the Rose
City Softball Association continues to grow as
Oregon’s largest LG BTQ_ sporting organiza
tion, boasting a membership of approximately
500.
“I think there are lots of reasons RCSA gay
softball is very popular,” says RCSA president
Jake Packer. “The first and foremost is that you
don’t have to be super athletic to play.”
Operating along the lines of many recre
ational leagues, RCSA focuses a big part of its
efforts on nurturing members of the commu
nity who were, as Packer explains, “perhaps
picked last in P.E., and teaching them the skills
it takes to have fun at a purely recreational, so
cial level with other people of [similar] ability.”
Now in its 17th season, RCSA has also en
deavored to support and connect within the
community by fostering relationships with Q.
Center, Cascade Aids Project, SMYRC and
other vital organizations.
“[We’ve] reinforced the notion that we can
make our community a better place and that as
a prominent LGBTQ_organization, we have a
responsibility to help in the ways that we can,”
explains Packer.
Thirty-one teams are set for the 2011 sea
son— 16 open division and 15 women’s teams—
and have a busy April ahead. Friday, April 1
finds the RCSA putting their best jock forward
during “April Jewels” at CC Slaughters at 9
p.m. Attendees have the opportunity to bid on
the personalized jocks of RCSA men’s players
in a benefit event for the James Hernandez
Player Assistance Fund.
The RCSA’s opening day and ceremonies are
set for Sunday, April 17 at the Gordon Faber
Sports Complex in Hillsboro (4450 NW 229th
Ave.). Also on deck, aside from this August’s
Portland Cup tournament—formerly the Cas
cade Cup— are rumblings of a bid to host the
NAGAAA Gay World Series and the ASANA
World Series—the equivalent lesbian women’s
event—as early as 2013.
“We are working towards that, and it is the
RCSA’s dream to host both the Open and
Women’s Championships in the near future,”
says Packer. “We can think of nothing better
than to see 10,000 LGBTQ_athletes, women
and men, all converging on Portland for one
glorious summer week.”
Until then, play ball!
For information on upcoming events, fundraisers
and more fo r the RCSA, visit rosecitysoftball.org.
The RCSA plays most Sundays at Gordon Faber
Sports Complex in Hillsboro from A pril 17 through
July 10, and the annual R C SA All-Stars vs. the
Portland Police Gay Pride E ven t is slated fo r Sat
urday,
June
IS
during
Pride
Weekend.
— R ya n J. P r a d o
Out Front
Portland Frontrunners build, cross
bridges for outsider activity
snap
have logged the miles and increased member
ship for that particular breed of health nut who
loves to hit the ground running.
The Frontrunners— a running club for LG-
BTQjndividuals and friends—are a haven for
both seasoned long-distance running pros and
those just interested in a jog every couple of
weeks. The nonprofit group hosts three runs for
members each week, ranging between four to
six miles on paved surfaces. There are also a
number of signature runs, like the group’s par
ticipation in the annual Race for the Roses
event taking place Sunday, April 3.
The Race for the Roses run—a particularly
scenic jaunt that brings 5,000 runners and
walkers over bridges, through downtown streets
and on the waterfront— is just one of the par
ticipatory pluses for Portland Frontrunner
members. As Frontrunners president Steve
Strode explains, you don’t have to be Jackie
Joyner-Kersee to join up; the group is for run
ners of all experience and competitive levels.
“1 think the key is we’re really trying to ap
peal to runners of all abilities, whether you’re
just starting out or you’re seasoned,"says Strode.
“We’ve also found it’s a great way to meet
friends rather than going out to bars.”
Portland Frontrunners is a member oflnter-
national Frontrunners— a consortium of simi
lar groups around the world. So when Front
runners members travel to other cities, they’re
able to join in that city’s weekly runs. Strode
reports that Portland routinely hosts visitors
for weekly runs as well.
The name o f the game for the group of late
has been outreach. Along with weekly runs, the
Frontrunners have begun hosting other club
events such as cookouts, movie nights and din
ners and are organizing a members camping
trip for later in the summer.
“I moved here a few years ago and a big
number of my friends I’ve made have evolved
from this group,” explains Strode. “It’s a great
social outlet as well, and that’s why we’re trying
to do more social events. The members are
looking for things like that.”
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RO N M ILLIG AN
P R IN C IP A L
B R O K ER
Portland Frontrunners hold weekly runs Tues
days beginning at D u n iw ay Park, Saturdays at
the Eastbank Esplanade and Sundays in Laurel-
Often lost amid the bustle and hype of Port
land’s status as a bicyclist’s mecca is the fact
that the same outdoor ambiance utilized hy
fixed gear aficionados is shared by our runners.
For the past decade, the Portland Frontrunners
hurst Park. For membership information, a calen
dar o f runs an d more, visit portlandfrontrunners.
org. To register f o r the Race fo r the Roses, visit
race4theroses.org.
— R y a n J. P r a d o
SPECIALIZING IN
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