Meet Mitchell McNamara | So Cal Adult Softball League Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mitchell McNamara and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mitchell, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
When I think about balance I always think of a quote a coach of mine once said, “If you are going to take the time to do something, you might as well do it the right way.” When we first started So Cal Adult Softball there were many times where I felt myself being stretched too thin. There were always more tasks than I could handle in the day, yet I found myself trying to get them done all at once. In the beginning I was dragging fields in the day and umpiring at night. Some days I would crush it and other days I was dragging my feet from one thing to the next. Over time I began to realize that I could handle anything if I just stop for a moment and remind myself to do it the right way. No half measures. No shortcuts. By focusing my energy at the task at hand I realized I could handle more in my life than I ever thought possible. The balance of building a business is kind of like building a house. You are never really finished and something always needs to be fixed.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
So Cal Adult Softball is a locally owned business that organizes adult softball leagues and tournaments in San Diego throughout the year. What sets us apart from other adult recreation leagues is our diverse groups of players. We have the largest Bio-Tech Softball league in all of San Diego. We have coed recreational leagues, men’s leagues and women’s leagues. Our leagues operate at 8 different recreation centers in the City of San Diego. Some of our leagues started as far back as 1975! San Diego has always been a great place to play softball year around. This allows us to have 4 seasons of softball a year! Some of the challenges that come with that is field space. The City of San Diego is not the sleepy beach town it was back in 1975. Today we have more fields and players than ever before but not enough staff at the Park and Recreation department to help maintain the fields. Maintaining the fields with equipment we purchased out of our own pockets has been the best investment we ever made! In fact such a good investment that we have been hired by many different youth and adult sports leagues to prep and maintain their fields. One of the lessons I had to learn the hard way involved a 40 foot geyser in the middle of the field right before game time. I was dragging the field too fast and clipped the sprinkler with the field drag. The field was flooded and we could not play for an entire week at that location. But with a little sun and few times around the diamond that field was back to the best shape it had ever been.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite spot in the city is Coast Walk Trail at La Jolla Cove. In the La Jolla area there are some of the best restaurants in all of San Diego. Check out La Jolla Shores. For dining I would check out The Marine Room for a special occasion. For a casual spot I would recommend Oscars Mexican Seafood. For breakfast Harry’s Coffee Shop. Go up to Mount Soledad and check out the view of the entire city. Watch a Padre game at Petco Park. Play Torrey Pines Golf Course. Take a 1/2 day fishing trip at Seaforth Landing. Jetski in the San Diego Bay.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people who have supported me along the way in building our business. My Dad started running softball leagues here in San Diego in the 1970s and he is still in the game! My buddy Shane who literally lost the tip of his finger trying to get the fields ready one day! Quad accident! My loving and supportive girlfriend who has been by my side every step of the way. My older sister who taught me that education is the key to success in anything. My Grandmother who never let me forget that there will always be someone with more and always someone with less, but no matter what to treat everyone with respect. All of the individuals and companies who have played in our leagues year after year. San Diego Park and Recreation staff. And last but not least our hard working umpires who keep the game going.

Website: www.socaladultsoftball.com

Instagram: socalsoftball

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoCalAdultSoftball

Other: (858) 453-6208

Image Credits
So Cal Adult Softball Players 2008 – 2021