“Bloody knees and elbows” is not the way most middle-aged men and women would describe their perfect weekend.

But then again, most men and women aren’t planning to represent Idaho at the 2024 USSSA Challenge Cup, dubbed the “Olympics of Slow-Pitch Softball,” which includes 4 weekends of play in Florida.

The mission of the tournament is to create “a bond amongst players at all levels” while allowing athletes from diverse backgrounds from across the world to compete in a professional venue on recently renovated turf fields at the USSSA Space Coast Complex & Stadium in Viera, Florida, according to the USSSA website.

Several local players have been selected to represent Idaho in the upcoming leg of the tournament for co-ed teams, which takes place Jan. 25-28 of the coming year. Among them is Katie Peters, single Pocatello mother of two teenagers.

“I first picked up the sport in kindergarten,” Peters said about her time playing softball.

And though she has played in competitive co-ed leagues for years, neither she nor her new teammates anticipated playing on a national stage.

“We never planned on doing something like this at our age,” she said, “Every game we ask ourselves, ‘what are we doing, we are too old for this.’ We come home from every tournament with bloody knees and bloody elbows and pulled hamstrings, groins and quads. It’s a lot of dedication for sure.”

Players for the Idaho Cup Co-Ed team were scouted from across the state, with a total of 12 teammates found as far north as Lewiston, south to Pocatello, and many places in between. And while very few of the players knew each other before joining the team, they’ve quickly learned to work together, competing at several tournaments together while learning their individual roles in the new squad.

“One of our first tournaments was in McCall and it was a bit rocky at first, but after a couple of games we were solid,” Peters said.

And although the prospect of playing against some of the best slow-pitch teams in the world is at times daunting, the team has managed to keep a reasonable perspective in spite of the hype.

“I think the biggest thing is that we’re all different people, all different ages with all different styles of play,” Peters said. “But the fact that we have come together and formed this unity that I never ever thought we’d have especially in such a short time playing together is incredible.”

Joining Peters on the team are Ben White of Jerome, plus Kimi Snapp, Bobby Day, and Eric Woodward, all of Pocatello.

The All-Idaho Cup Co-Ed softball team is appreciative of any businesses or individuals willing to support their trip to Florida. Patrons can donate to the teams online GoFundMe by visiting gofund.me/0651820e.