I don't know anything about softball, personally I'd never play it myself but I can understand how it would appeal to people and am glad they enjoy it.
What I do know is that the amateur baseball scene in Minnesota is really outstanding. I played in the Park National League for 2 years on a squad called the Minneapolis Lakers, we played our home games at Parade Stadium near downtown MPLS, and then after the game the culture sounds very similar to what you described, beers in the parking lot, to the bar for cheap food, etc. Summer in Minnesota is pretty awesome.