It’s been two years since Marvin Barginere and several other fathers in Crenshaw, Butler and Pike counties began the upstart Blue Krush fastpitch travel softball league.

“Fast pitch softball is pretty big in the area, and a lot of girls continue to play travel softball and go to Hoover, Birmingham and Dothan,” Barginere said in 2014 regarding the reason behind starting the organization.

“And basically, we reached out to other girls in the area that might not have the financial means or might not want to do that to continue to play softball year-round.

“So we decided to start an organization here in Luverne to make sure that our girls have a chance to play travel softball, develop a skill and maybe, down the line, get a college scholarship playing softball and doing something that they love to do.”

As Blue Krush enters its third full season, the organization as expanded from its humble origins in July 2014 as a single 10-and-under team to include two 12-and-under teams (Blue Krush 04 and 05), a 16-and-under team (Blue Krush 02), a 14-and-under team (Blue Krush 03) and a 10-and-under team (Blue Krush 06).

According to Brent Lambert, one of three Blue Krush 06 coaches, things are continuing on an upward trajectory for the fast-pitch travel team.

“Blue Krush currently has players as far away as Montgomery, Enterprise and the Dothan areas,” Lambert said.

“We schedule practice on Saturday morning as much as possible so the parents won’t be put into any difficult situation regarding being able to attend practice.  If there is a scheduling conflict, we work as a group to find a time that is more suitable for everyone.  Saturdays seem to be the easiest day.”

Though managing players from multiple counties hasn’t always been an easy task, Barginere added that parents have alleviated a number of potential scheduling nightmares.

“Here at Blue Krush, we’re blessed to have dedicated parents, and we try to make our practice times as flexible and convenient as possible for everyone because of the distance,” Barginere added.

In addition to optional batting and pitching practices throughout the week, the girls are encouraged to improve individually at home.

Lambert added that the girls’ work ethic in practice is the foundation of Blue Krush’s success in a number of tournament appearances.

“Practices have been going great,” Lambert said.  “We see vast improvement in each of the girls at every practice, which translates into performing very well in the tournaments we play in.”

Blue Krush 04 will be hosting a pair of tournaments during the fall season in Luverne on Sept. 10 and Oct. 8, and Troy on Sept. 24-25 and Oct. 15.