Your Glove Is in the Garage. These Leagues Don't Care.

I found my glove under a beach towel and a receipt from a place that closed. That felt about right for September on the Suncoast. The good news: Club Sport is still taking people who look like that.

Friday draft at Fruitville — deadline tomorrow

Friday Coed Draft Softball at Fruitville Park starts Friday, Oct. 2. The signup deadline is Thursday, Oct. 1. You register as an individual for $65, captains draft teams the week before, and you get seven regular-season games, playoffs for everybody, a shirt, and paid umps. Ages 21+. Games at 7 or 8 p.m.

Draft leagues are for the person who moved here in March and still doesn't have "a group." You show up solo. Somebody else shows up solo. Suddenly you're arguing about left field and splitting a pitcher after. That is the whole point.

Thursday nights at Bee Ridge

If Fridays are spoken for, Thursday Coed Softball at Bee Ridge Park starts Oct. 8, with a Oct. 7 deadline. Social and AAA divisions. Individuals are $65; full teams are $650 for up to 14 players. Same deal: seven games, everyone makes the tournament, shirts included. Ages 18+. Game times from 6 to 9 p.m.

The Social division is for people who cannot find their bat and are fine with that. AAA is for people who can find their bat and still want to laugh about the error.

Bradenton still kicks on Fridays

Across the county line, Manatee County Parks runs adult coed kickball Friday nights at 7 p.m. at G.T. Bray and Lakewood Ranch Park. $400 a team for up to 20 players, jerseys included, eight games plus playoffs. Schedules live on Team Sideline. No team? Email parksandrecreation@mymanatee.org and get on the pickup list.

The wine note

A Friday night at Fruitville and a cheap red afterward is a better pairing than most tasting rooms will admit. Soft tannins. Soft elbows. Same energy.

Check the Club Sport pages before you click pay — spots move. Then dig the glove out. The receipt can stay under the towel.

— Kevin