The game will be the same, but almost everything else in the Clark Sports Center's men's softball league will be different this year.

"New league, new format, new field," said the gym's Barry Gray, who will run the program this year.

Sports Center athletic director Scott Curtis sent a survey out to all of the gym's members who played softball last year, and decided to drastically alter the league based on the survey results.

This year, the league will have a limit of a 12-foot arc on pitches, limit games to one hour, and have a maximum of eight teams. All games will be played on Monday nights at 6:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. on the two fields at the Sports Center, and Curtis is also hoping to have certified umpires for the games.

Construction of a new, $50,000 field was completed last fall, and will be used by both the softball league and the Cooperstown Little League.

The field features 60-foot baselines, a skinned infield, a backstop and fences.

"We think we offer terrific facilities," Curtis said. "The important thing for members to know is that these changes are what they asked for in the survey. Without these changes, the league could be in serious trouble."

Last year, the softball league had just five teams and played on almost every night of the week except weekends.

Curtis said playing on just one night will help players plan other summer activities, and he hopes the other changes will help draw more interest from teams in Cooperstown and surrounding towns.

There will be an organizational meeting for softball at the Sports center on April 12 at 7 p.m. Anyone interested in participating should attend the meeting, and team captains should bring a $50 deposit.

"Another change this year is that the first eight teams to give their deposit will be in," Curtis said. "Last year, teams who played the previous year were given the right to get in first, but not this year."

The softball league will begin on May 7, and continue through the summer. At the conclusion of the regular season, a round robin playoff tournament will be held.

The league is open to all interested teams. Fees are $300 for teams consisting of a majority of gym members, and $525 for non-member teams.

For more information, call Scott or Barry at 547-2800.