POCATELLO — The LDS Young Single Adults softball league kicked off last month with a season-opener barbecue at Booth Field.

    Sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the weekly softball league is open to all singles between 18 and 30 years of age. And while its primary goal is help young singles to meet other young singles, the event is just a really good way to socialize and get outdoors, said organizer Tamara Dimick.

    “We hope that they meet someone, but we just want them to get out and have a good time,” Dimick said. “It’s not just for LDS singles, it’s for everybody.”

    Bert Hulse, a member of the High Council for the Second Stake of the LDS church, said rain and wind last month caused turnout to be down slightly, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of those who came.

    “We seemed to have picked the coldest day of the year to do this,” Hulse joked.

    Hulse said the First Stake represents four Pocatello wards, three from Blackfoot and one from American Falls.

    Pono Hanohano, originally from Hawaii, is a member of the Young Single Adults 9th Ward. He got some pointers on He-Man Croquet from Becca Turner, a cosmetology student at Idaho State University. Turner is from Boise.

    Like traditional croquet, the object of the game is to knock a ball through a series of hoops set up on the lawn. The twist in the He-Man version is players use sledge hammers to hit a bowling ball through re-bar hoops.

    “She’s actually better at it than I am,” Hanohano said.  

    Hanohano said faith is an important part of a relationship. And the LDS Young Single Adults events offer ways to socialize with friends from church and school, and to meet other singles who share common values.

    The LDS church actually encourages young adults to marry and start their families while still in college. But Hanohano said at 26, he’s not ready for marriage. Yet he still enjoys making new friends and socializing at the events.

    “If it works for you that’s awesome, but it’s not for me, not right now,” Hanohano said. “Eventually I want to marry, but right now, I want to travel.”

    Twain Hayden, Bishop for the Pocatello 5th Ward, said that for several years there were a number of university wards in the Idaho State University neighborhood. And three years ago, those congregations merged with Young Single Adults.

    Hayden said the group represents singles ages 18 to 30.

    “That’s a very important decade of decision, career, marriage, it’s a crucial time,” Hayden said. “Financially, it can be beneficial to have two incomes during college.”

    The activities offered through the LDS Young Single Adults network are aimed at establishing good habits that participants will take with them after college graduation and into marriage.

    “We want to establish a pattern, you work really hard and then you play really hard,” Hayden said. “They go from here into the world.”

    Events Coordinator Bill Green said as well as softball, the YSA also host basketball and volleyball leagues, as well as ultimate Frisbee tourneys.    

    Stake President Bill McNabb said the major purpose of the event is for attendees to meet someone special. But the softball league is also a way to get better acquainted with people they already know.

    Alex Turpin, Krystal Phillips and Dallin Evans from Blackfoot said it can be difficult for young LDS singles to meet new people. Members of the church don’t drink, so they are unlikely to go to bars. But many young singles do utilize the social network.

    Especially in rural areas, young singles have grown up together and feel more like brothers and sisters than potential mates.

    “It’s fun to come and hang around people that have the same values as you,” Phillips said. “If you meet someone, that’s a bonus. It’s fun to just come and socialize.”

    Evans admitted that he came Wednesday for the food, but he said it’s fun to meet new people as well.

    “It’s sweet — I always meet interesting people here,” Evans said.

    Stake President Mike Mickelsen said the co-ed softball teams get together on Tuesday and Wednesday to take on teams from LDS wards throughout Pocatello, Blackfoot and American Falls.

    Mickelsen said the softball league has been an annual church summer event for at least 20 years.

    “Our numbers kind of fluctuate depending on how many college kids go home in the summer,” Mickelsen said.

    The softball teams are not limited to nine or 10 players and everyone who wants to play gets a chance to play.

    The Young Singles softball league meets on Tuesday and Wednesday at Booth Field on Booth Road at 6 p.m. throughout the summer.