Strike outs, home runs, slides to first, slides to home, incredible saves and heartbreaking outs were all part of the Rimbey/Bluffton Minor Ball Association’s recent tournament.
The hardball tourney, which featured 16 teams, gave all the teams in the minors a chance to play, with the exception of the T-ball tikes and the midgets, who did their part by helping with umpiring and other related duties.
The T-ball players are too young to participate and there was no interest by enough hardball teams in the midget age group to enter that category in the tourney, said Tara Lunzmann, treasurer for the minor ball association.
Lunzmann said about $4,000 was raised from the tournament which included a concession and a 50/50 draw.
Money raised goes toward equipment and the dark blue and grey uniforms the Rimbey Renegades wear.
Stettler won gold in the bantam division, Rocky Mountain House took silver and Rimbey captured a bronze.
In the peewee division, St. Albert took the gold, Lacombe came in second and third place went to Stettler.
Stettler also won the mosquito division, with Rimbey coming in second and Red Deer grabbing the bronze.
A home run derby also proved popular at the tourney, said Lunmann.
“Overall it was very good. The weather co-operated and the parents helped out as did the midgets. It’s a huge effort for the whole association to put this on.”
By Treena Mielke