Bob Mattison was so impressed with the slowpitch Golden Valley Girls Softball League (GVGS) that he wondered how it all got started.
Mattison's curiosity led him to writing and self-publishing a book that chronicles the history of the league called "The Game is for the Girls." Mattison's daughters played in the league and he coached for 13 years while also filling other roles within GVGS.
The book details how GVGS got started as an offshoot of Little League baseball in 1974 and how it's grown through the years. The league consists primarily of residents of the Robbinsdale and Hopkins school districts and is played at several parks in Golden Valley.
Opening day for the 2012 GVGS season is this Saturday. Mattison's book will be sold that day and is also available at the league's website www.gvgs.org.
It can also be found at Kuiper's Hardware in Golden Valley and All-Star Sports in New Hope.
Net proceeds from his book will go to the Save a Life Initiative, a group that works to prevent teen suicide.
Jay Wilcox reporting
jwilcox@twelve.tv
Wednesday, May 16, 2012