After a fun-filled weekend, teams from all over Drumheller have hung up their gloves. The 2012 Drumheller Mixed Slo-pitch Association season has come to a close.
The final tournament of the season was held on the weekend of July 14. Nineteen teams descended on the Newcastle Diamonds for the weekend.
“We just play for fun and the winning team gets $40 from the league,” said Kadena Pierce, who helps organize the league.
This year was considered to be quite a successful year. The association had planned to spend time during the season fundraising for new dugouts. Thanks to the Town of Drumheller, the dugouts were installed, without the need for any fundraising from the association.
“Things worked out really well. The Town put up dugouts all on their own, without any fundraising by us, or the girls [Drumheller Girls Softball Association]. It was really nice they did that,” said Pierce.
The new dugouts will hopefully go a long way in attracting more tournaments and teams to Drumheller.
“I know last year there were plenty of Calgary teams hosting tournaments in Drumheller. The new dugouts will help bring more games here, helps our girls softball provincial champs, and us. We sat through some rain games. When you’re on the field you get soaked. It’s nice to be able to get out of the rain. Some of the dugouts also provide quite a bit of heat relief,” said Pierce.
It may still be just under a year away, but the club is already looking ahead to next season. It’s still early, but there is talk of making the season-end tournament even bigger next year.
“We’re spitballing a few things for the tournament next year, like a home run derby. For the league as a whole we don’t have any major plans yet,” said Pierce.
For anyone interested in starting a team, Pierce recommends to start building a team early. The first meeting for next season will be held in April 2013, with the season starting on May 1.
