RAPID CITY - What began with two teams in 1999 has grown to some 520 girls and 49 teams with no signs of slowing down. The Amateur Softball Association of America may have had an unsure beginning, but its future looks bright as more Rapid City girls take advantage of softball opportunities during the summer months.

"It was an offshoot of what was known than as the senior league which was a division of Little League," said ASA Area Youth Fastpitch Commissioner Rick DenHerder. "In 1999 two teams formed ASA.

"I think the idea of traveling was something people wanted to do that, and in order to do that you needed some sort of governing body. Sioux Falls had an ASA program and Sioux Falls helped us get started. They were the catalyst for getting it started on this side of the state."

Nine years ago, Rapid City's ASA offered softball in the U-14, U-16 and U-18 divisions for girls, but today that has grown to include a U-6, U-8, U-10 and U-12.

"Our goal is to provide the opportunity for young women to play fastpitch softball," DenHerder said. "We let them choose to play at whatever level they want. Our goal is to use our association with ASA and this complex to draw people in and keep them playing softball."

Games are played at the Parkview ASA Softball Complex which houses four softball fields. The complex was built with help from the city and had its first games played in 2004. DenHerder said without the complex the growth and development of ASA softball in Rapid City would not have been possible.

Some of the biggest criticism of ASA is it is set up simply to be a traveling league for its teams. While it is true that ASA teams in Rapid City as young as 10 year olds do travel to tournaments, DenHerder is quick to point out it is up to the individual player and their family whether they want to play in the ASA's recreation league or a traveling league.

"Our vision is to have two divisions - a recreation division and a traveling or competitive division," DenHerder said. "We want it to be an all inclusive program that is all about the girls."

DenHerder points to the two American Legion baseball programs in Rapid City as providing great opportunities for boys, and hopes that is what ASA is able to do for girls who enjoy softball.

The two youngest divisions - U-6 and U-8 - are seen as developmental leagues where no score is kept. U-6 starts out with tee-ball and advances to a pitching machine, while U-8 goes from the machine to coach pitch. By U-10, players begin to see a modified version of live pitch.

It is also during this time that ASA makes sure all of its players play in the game as it tries to develop the abilities of each player.

"We do things like round-robin batting to make sure everyone has a chance especially at the young ages," DenHerder said.

As the girls become older many will likely join the traveling teams which can have a demanding schedule for a season that begins in May and concludes with a state tournament during the third weekend in July.

"The extreme case is a team with eight or nine tournaments in a season and play somewhere around 70 games," said DenHerder, who is a softball coach and Rapid City ASA board member. "One of the teams I coached that made it to the world series played close to 90 games."

DenHerder estimates that nearly 80 percent of the U-12 through U-18 teams with travel during the season to some degree.

For kids ages 6-10 there is no cost to play ASA other than a $50 fundraiser fee. The equipment and uniforms are provided. U-12 players have an additional $25 fee and all others have a $75 fee in addition to the fundraiser fee.

The costs can begin to pile up when players have to provide their own equipment, uniforms, food and method of travel to away tournaments beginning at the U-12 age.

While the travel can be expensive, it also gives players a chance to be seen by more colleges and increase their chance to continue their softball playing careers.

"There are huge showcase tournaments that can have as many as 700 fast pitch teams at them, and coaches are able to go to these and see a lot of talent in the same place for a week," DenHerder said. "Like any other sport, there are kids that have a passion for softball and we want to provide them with the tools and support and pursue the opportunity to play softball in college."

DenHerder said Rapid City teams have traveled to Denver, Minneapolis and even down to Texas to play in tournaments, but he stresses that playing on a competitive team is not a requirement to be part of the ASA program.

This year, Rapid City ASA has two traveling U-18 teams, and while the program continues to grow, DenHerder can see in five years the number of traveling teams at that level many not increase while the recreation teams likely will.

"This is a sport that people can enjoy until they are in their 60s or older and that is why we are here," he said.