About
Our mission: Serve Christ through sports, service, and spiritual events.
What is Catholic Softball Group (CSG) and what is its mission?
CSG is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, comprising hundreds of dedicated members, primarily from the Catholic community. Together, we engage in coed softball games, foster friendships, deepen our faith, and contribute through volunteering. We host softball seasons in Little Canada, Minnesota during both summer and fall. Our overarching goal is to honor and serve Jesus Christ by blending sports, community service, and spiritual enrichment.
What makes CSG different?
We are different from ordinary softball leagues because we are Catholic at our core. We are open about our faith, pray before games, play with clergy, and do our best to be a community in and for Christ. We also try to have fun doing it — like our annual Halloween tournament with wacky rules, mid-season BBQs, and Player Appreciation games.
We differ from other leagues as well in that your team looks different every season, so you’ll meet many new people. All you do is sign up to play softball, and we divide teams evenly based on skill and experience.
Outside of softball coed and men's summer and fall leagues, we volunteer our time and service through Feed My Starving Children, Habitat for Humanity, and other organizations. We have fun activities like St. Paul Saints games, open-gym volleyball (in the winter), and fundraisers like golf scrambles and bags (cornhole) tournaments. We encounter Christ though spiritual events like group adoration, praise and worship, and our annual retreat.
We're a diverse group that shares a common passion for sports, fellowship, and faith. We welcome all singles, married couples, parents, young, old, and everyone in between. If softball is not your thing, we have many fans who come watch and hang out with us every week. And even if faith is not your strength, we still welcome you, too.
History
CSG began in 2015 out of a desire to play coed softball with like-minded Christians. That summer we had two teams in a public league in Roseville. Ever since, the group has steadily increased the number of teams represented every year, culminating to 16-teams (192 players) each season.
It was in 2018 that we formally named ourselves Catholic Softball Group and became a nonprofit. In 2019, CSG grew to enough teams to form our own private league in Little Canada where we still play today.
CSG continues to evolve, expanding to other sports such as volleyball and golf as well as offering more faith based opportunities like evenings of Adoration and Confession.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the season start and end? What days do you play?
Summer seasons generally begin late April and end in July. Fall seasons generally begin in August and end in October. Games are played Thursday evenings at 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, and 9pm. Your team will play two back-to-back games a night (6 and 7pm or 8 and 9pm).
How much does it cost to play? Where does the money go?
The cost per person is usually around $60-$70 to cover field rental, lights, umps and insurance. This is a bargain compared other leagues! We take no money off the top of anything ever. We are actively looking for sponsors to reduce costs for everyone. We provide bats and balls - you provide everything else (glove, athletic shoes/cleats).
Do I register a team or do I register just myself?
You register yourself only and cannot register a team. You will be randomly placed on a team based on your skill level (if you're a new player then you'll be asked to fill out a brief skills form). This creates a fun opportunity to meet new people every season while keeping all the teams balanced and competitive.
Where are games played?
Games are played at Pioneer Park in Little Canada.
What if I have no skill or experience in softball?
We welcome all athletes whether you're very skilled or have little experience at all. However, please know that softball can be dangerous! If you're unsure whether you should play, come check us out during the season or join a practice to see how it goes.
If you’re convinced you don’t want to play, that is not a problem. We want you to still be a part of CSG. Some just come to watch games, eat at BBQs, volunteer, and hang out with everyone. No pressure.
What if I'm not Catholic?
That's OK! While most of us are Catholic, we welcome all religious and non-religious affiliations. Just know that we pray before every game, and we ask that you respect that.
If I can't make all the games can I still play?
Yes, but if you have to miss more than two weeks we ask that you sign up for another session when your schedule works better for you and the rest of your team.
Can we play in a more competitive league?
The level of competition is dependent on the average skill of all the players, which is usually somewhere between beginner to intermediate. Anyone is free to create their own team to play in a more competitive league - just know that we won’t be organizing it. If you do form another team, please try to play on a different night than ours, and try not to abandon our league while taking players with you! :)
How many players are on each team?
There are twelve players per team - six women and six men.
What rules do you play with (USSSA, ASA, etc)?
Our umpires follow USSSA rules. If you have your own bat please ensure it meets USSSA standards.
Who makes up the leadership team?
CSG is blessed with great leaders. You can find the current team on our Contact Us page.
