Swampscott neighbors Tarek Donnolly and Matt Chadwell would rush out of work once a week to sit in traffic for over an hour to make it to their softball leagues’ games in Hyde Park.

Despite the good times and connections made, eventually Donnolly’s desire to make the trek waned. He suggested Chadwell one day that they should start their own league in Swampscott. The pair reached out to Recreation Director Charlotte Daher de Garcia, and the rest is history.

The Coastal Co-Ed Softball League took the diamond at Swampscott Middle School for its second night of games on Wednesday.

Over 60 adults signed up to play in the league’s inaugural season. The league is made up of players ranging from age 30 to into their 60s. Each team carries both men and women.

“The enrollment is kind of incredible,” said Donnolly. “We weren’t really expecting so many people to sign up for the first season. That was kind of a shock.”

Some teams, like Donnolly and Chadwell’s “Clam Strips,” are made up of multiple groups of friends.

“The Sunset Sluggers are unique because they’re kind of a hodge podge team,” said Donnolly. “Like-minded individuals that signed up individually that all wanted to play softball. And they’re good! I hope there are a lot of friendships that come out of this.”

Chadwell said one focus of the league has been to cater it to players of all skill levels.

“We’re trying to promote inclusiveness of skill ranges of all kinds,” said Chadwell. “From never playing the game to playing in high school or college, a lot of our rules are in the spirit of that. There are no umpires. It’s more casual. Everyone seems to have taken to it really positively. I think it will be a good social experience and environment for all of us, hopefully make some new friends.”

A perfect balance of competition and fun has made the games challenging without being overwhelming, Chadwell said.

Both Chadwell and Donnolly said the camaraderie and community involved in a softball league is what keeps them coming back. They hope that the community around Coastal Co-ed will only grow with time.

“We’re getting to know each other,” said Chadwell. “We’re all kind of in similar stages of our lives. We have a lot in common, like life in the Swampscott community.”