That was the cry in 1991 as frustrated parents of young girls in Owasso, having had enough of being treated as after-thoughts in a community where boys ruled and girls … well didn’t, banded together to form an organization with a mission to empower girls to put down the pom-poms and receive the same chances afforded the young men.

In 1992, the Owasso Girls Softball Association (OGSA) was formed. While based in Owasso, the association encompasses players and teams from surrounding areas including Claremore, Collinsville, Sperry, Inola, Oologah and others.

“When the OGSA first started, we played at the fields behind the old community center (now the Owasso YMCA),” said Lynn Gibson, who has been with the association since day one. “The mentality out there was that softball wasn’t a serious sport for girls, so therefore, the girls were not taught to be competitive.”

In 1994 after many rounds of lobbying and knocking on doors, the OGSA was provided fields at the same Owasso Sports Complex that served as the home fields for the Future Owasso Rams baseball clubs. In that same year, the OGSA was able to secure a National Invitational Tournament, but had to play some of the games at the Rayola fields because the new fields had no lights. The softball fields at the city complex were very raw. No asphalt. Little grass. No concession stand.

Through many years of hard work and dedication by countless volunteers, the OGSA has grown to afford any girl, ages 4 through 18, the opportunity to play ball. And play they have. Each year the turnout for spring softball participation has grown exponentially in the Owasso area. In fact, in 2007, a record number 40 teams signed up to play fall ball out of Owasso … an increase of 400%.

“For many years, the girls played on two fields with dirt infields and two with grass infields,” said Lynn Gibson. “And we have grown every year since in terms of number of players. This tells me that there is more and more interest in softball, especially in the Green Country area.”

The OGSA hosts several tournaments that draw hundreds of teams and spectators each year from all over Oklahoma and surrounding states. The OGSA has hosted three national tournaments, an NIT in 1994 and AFA National in 1999 and 2001.

“It is my hope, as it was my daughter’s dream, that softball in Owasso will become the premier sport for girls to play,” Lynn Gibson said. “With hard work it can be. It will take the effort of everyone to bring the softball program to the level it deserves. The girls are worth it.

The OGSA, a volunteer not-for-profit organization, is committed to enriching the lives of each player and teaching self-esteem, sportsmanship and integrity. To learn more, click here.

For more on Lynn Gibson and her husband, Dan, and her tireless contributions to the OGSA click here.