Ironside Apparel team enjoys spending summer together in Iowa Women’s Softball League

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Ironside Apparel women, despite having their own stories, still come together every summer because of their shared interest — softball.

“I love being around all these girls from different teams and you are able to make connections,” said Hannah Ironside, a recent graduate of DMACC.

She has been playing softball since she was 8 years old and is in her second and final summer playing in the Iowa Women’s Softball League.

Even though these women come from different colleges, they still are able to form a bond.

“It’s a lot of fun. I really like all the girls,” said Emily Watters, a pitcher for Ironside Apparel.

Watters is a sophomore at Missouri Western State and has been playing softball since she was 8 years old. This is her first year at IWSL.

Unlike Watters, Ironside is one of the oldest women on the team, but she also thought similarly.

“The dynamic is super nice. We all meshed and connected right off the bat, so that was just super fun and makes everything else so much more enjoyable,” she said.

Alexis Pupillo, a catcher, agreed with her teammates.

“All the girls are really cool. It’s just a lot of fun,” she said.

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Pupillo is a junior at the University of Alabama. She has been playing softball since she was 4 years old and, like Ironside, this is her second summer on this team.

The bond they have didn’t come easy because playing for IWSL means there are new teammate each year. Still they have managed to connect due to their willingness to form as one.

“It just depends how hard you try. You just really gotta have an open mind and get to know all the girls,” Ironside said,

The season has barely started, but without a single practice, Ironside Apparel leads the four-team league with a 4-1 record.

“We don’t practice. We just come here on Sundays and play,” Pupillo said.

Last Sunday, Ironside Apparel beat MS Trucking, 16-5. Their next game is on Sunday against Texas Roadhouse (3-1-1). The women hope for the same result the rest of the season.

“Keep having fun, keep playing good,” Watters said.