8 August 13 - 19, 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Month XX–Month XX, 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER | CLASSIFIED | MUSIC | DISH | MOVIES | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | FEATURE | SCHUTZE | UNFAIR PARK | CONTENTS | n a dugout in Richardson, Anthony Massa recites the normal pregame speech, running through the oppos- ing team’s stats, deciding who’ll start on which base, then, right before the compulsory “Let’s kick some ass,” he runs through the entire roster’s ail- ments. A good portion of the team has metal rods holding some part of their bodies together; others have heart conditions they monitor under the guidance of a cardiolo- gist; one was recently diagnosed with blad- der cancer. Massa’s team, the Lewisville Lonestar Bandits, within the Metroplex Se- nior Citizens Softball Association (MSCSA), is a 65 and older softball league for seniors, and while they still dive to the bases, they have a tougher time getting back up. In a different dugout in Oak Cliff, Jo Pearce delivers a similar pregame speech to her ragtag group of ball players. Her team, the White Rock Mudbugs, are a little younger than Massa’s, but most have less ex- perience. The Mudbugs don’t play competi- tively; it’s a rarity if anyone on the team knows the game’s score at any given time. And instead of a list of injuries and illnesses to pray through, Pearce tells her team to grab another beer before they take the mound. On a field in East Dallas, Todd Maria de- livers his own version of the speech to his Lost Souls, an inclusive rugby team prepar- ing to travel to Brisbane, Australia, to com- pete in the Bingham Cup, the world’s largest LGBTQ+ rugby tournament. His speech re- minds the team to stay safe and protect one another while emphasizing the league’s brotherhood. Each team is exceptionally different, ca- tering to vastly different groups of people. But they all provide the same thing: a way to enjoy movement, a strong community and a reclamation of sport. The loneliness epidemic is a very real thing beyond the cries of chronically online young men, and according to the U.S. Surgeon General, it’s threatening the mental and physical health of the American people at large. The solution is simple: for a nation still leveling out from the throes of a pandemic, grappling with modified work environments, increased political polarization and the broader shift in social structures, people are craving new ways to be together. Recreational sports have surged in popularity as people seek community. While there are plenty of leagues for the obvious market demographic of young men who grew up throwing around the pigskin, there’s a rec league for just about ▼ Cover Story >> p10 FINDING HOME BASE Everyone is craving community now, and Dallas is building it through the resurgence of adult recreational sports leagues. BY ALYSSA FIELDS Sandlot baseball in Dallas focuses on friendship, not statistics. Photos by Mike Brooks
