Bakersfield Bobby Sox is a fast pitch softball league for girls ages 4-18. There are no tryouts in Bobby Sox. All girls will get to play regardless of their experience. We stress the 5 ships: Friendship, Sportsmanship, Leadership, Citizenship and Scholarship.

Little League Baseball started in 1947, as well as the rapid institution of many team sports programs for boys. In the 60's, no one was concerned about team sports for girls. Community support was behind boy's programs. The founders of Bobby Sox Fastpitch Softball along with the help of their friends, developed an organized team sports program for girls. At the time, it was less than wholeheartedly supported. Ultimately the approval of the public was won with the result that hundreds of sports programs for girls came into being.

Of the three original founders, William Honaker (deceased 1969) and Everett Skillings (deceased 1978) poured the last years of their lives into the Bobby Sox Fastpitch Softball Program without ever receiving much in the way of recognition for their efforts. Assisted by his wife Lois, the third of the original founders, Ernest L. Severtsen, authored the Program's Administrative Guide and Playing Rules.   Ernest is also accredited with developing the pitching circle, the yellow softball, the unique box system of umpiring as well as many of the safety rules still in use today.

Bobby Sox is truly a structured program with many innovations never before set forth in any youth program. If a girl has the desire and is eligible, she will be placed on a team (without the demeaning exercise of 'try-outs') through an effective 'draw system', and will play a minimum of two innings in every game her team plays. There is no 'player draft'.. as 'trading' is not allowed.

Team Managers must be women, though 'Dad' is allowed to assume the coaching positions. Never in the Bobby Sox Program would a girl be considered "unqualified" to become a member of a particular team due to her lack of playing skills. A balanced Board of Directors is elected to manage the local League and all League and
Team staff members, including official umpires and league helpers fall under it's direct control. No longer would a very small group of strong individuals have the right to make all League decisions as occurs in many 'Independent Leagues.'

Facets of the Bobby Sox Program were incorporated in many youth sports programs (both male and female) throughout the country. The Bobby Sox Fastpitch Softball Program is responsible for the development of tens of thousands local, civic organizations dedicated to team sports exclusively for girls. The program has also developed leadership excellence in thousands of adult volunteers because of experience in the Local League and commissioning.

Program playing rules, insurance, adult educational publications, the National Office operations, volunteer clinics of all types, safety videos and equipment, leadership materials, tournaments.. All have continued to improve under Severtsen's guidance.

In 1967, Mr. Severtsen was asked what the Bobby Sox Program was all about:

"The Bobby Sox Fastpitch Softball Program's game of softball spotlights the playing field as a stage upon which our daughters perform in order to properly gain our attention. The program is further used to help us teach the girls through our own example the five 'Ships' of Bobby Sox;

Friendship, Sportsmanship, Citizenship, Leadership and Scholarship.