In celebration of the start of the 28th Chico softball season, we will be posting daily recaps of the greatest games in the Bonders’ long and illustrious history.
Twenty-seven seasons of Chico game recaps, stories, and player profiles are included in a recently published award-winning book entitled SOMETIMES ORANGE IS ALMOST GOLD.
The book won a silver medal in the Non-Fiction Humor category of 2025 Reader Views Literary Awards.
Literary Awards Winners – Reader Views
Book Short Summary: This book captures the colorful and hilarious exploits of a group of orange-clad outcasts on their futile two-decade quest for softball glory. Part softball team. Part social club. Part mythology. But mostly failure. Nobody loses better than the Chico’s Bail Bonds softball team–the forever doormats of adult softball in a college town in the hills of West Virginia.
The book is available at: Shop – Jim Antonini or at most online book stores.
Greatest Moments in Chico’s History – May 15, 2025
They closed the streets of First Ward. Crowds lined each side from West Virginia Avenue to Mississippi Street to Liberatore Field- orange as far as you could see. Pom poms, bottle rockets, and balloons. The first 500 fans received Chico schedule magnets. It was the start of a new softball season, and Chico Nation was ready. The skies were blue and clear. The air was comfortably warm and dry. A perfect night for a celebration. There were middle school marching bands, creepy politicians in sports cars, crying babies in strollers, beauty queens throwing candy, and softball royalty (many in wheel chairs) from days gone by. The best day of spring.
Seventeen Bonders, some veterans, some rookies, roared onto the lush green grounds of Liberatore to make history on the 27th opening day of Chico softball. But in true Bonder fashion, the buildup, the pomp and circumstance was bigger than the actual product on the field. The Bondsmen were doomed from the start- walks, poor infield play would be their downfall. Opening day pitcher Jeff Ryan walked the first three Pickled Nimrod batters he faced in Game 1, causing manager Ken Price to remark, “this isn’t good but seems about right.” Chico’s fell behind early and never could dig themselves out of the hole, battling for seven hard fought innings to lose 12-7 to their longtime rivals. The season’s first team meeting was held in shallow center field as four Chico players collided behind second base on a lazy fly ball. RCF Chris Simons nearly killed the Chico waif of a SS Devin Williams. Simons chipped a tooth, and Williams broke a finger. The Bonders were better in game 2. Pitcher Richard Lewis brought stability as Chico’s offense came alive with several clutch hits and scoring nine runs only to fall 14-9 in the night cap. The night was highlighted by the play of 2B Chris Evans who predicted that there would be ‘a whole lotta Evans’ for the twinbill – and it was true. Evans was called out for baserunner interference for wildly flailing his arms to distract the Nimrod 1B causing him to drop a routine pop, was caught off second on an infield fly rule pop out (first time I’ve ever seen that), was viciously run over at a close play at second base, and was the supposed target at 2B for numerous errant throws of a Chico infielder who shall not be named. Chico MVPs were 3B Aaron Hawley (nice plays in the field, a 2-run double), 1B Shannon Davy (2 triples), and RF Dave Brown (4 hits, 4 runs scored). Other stars included LF Andy Tuck who had 5 hits and rookie Noah G who had three hits his Chico debut. Dirtiest Chico – Dave Brown, Devin Williams. Last Chico Standing – all the way from Beckley Dave Lawson. Team meeting MVP – John Casey. Despite opening night losses, the Bonder team members celebrated hard into the early morning hours. It was good to see everyone again after a long hard offseason.
Chico’s Bail Bonds Softball – The World’s Best Softball Team