Softball enthusiasts wanting to watch competitive softball games won't have to go any further than 35th Avenue West and Grand Avenue. Some of the best players in Minnesota will be in town for the Class C state softball tournament at Duluth's Wheeler Field Aug. 19-21.
Duluth will have two teams representing the city in this year's tournament: the Club House Sports Bar and the Rustic Bar/Bud Lite.
Buck Moore, player manager of the Club House Sports Bar said this year Duluth has some quality softball teams. He added that every team who enters has a chance to win.
"It's the most competitive I have ever seen it," he said.
The softball league is organized by the Duluth Parks and Recreation Department and is part of the United States Specialty Sports Association. It is open to any players ages 18 or older.
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The C Division allows each team to have two home runs per game.
Moore predicted teams will have to hit for power if they want to win the state title. He said teams should have 25 runs in the state tournament in order to be competitive.
Moore's team is part of the Classic League. He says that the league standings are close. "Anybody can beat anyone on a given day," he said.
In addition to softball, the Parks and Recreation Department oversees other sports year 'round. However, many of those sports are seeing a decline in participation.
Dale Stanek, the adult sport lead coordinator for Duluth's Parks and Recreation, says participation in adult sports has decreased. Beside the sport of bocce ball, which has increased numbers, participation in adult recreation sports has been on a decline the last couple of years.
Stanek said in the late 1980s there were 200 softball teams signed up. "It's almost half of what it used to be," Stanek said.
Stanek said part of the reason for the decline in numbers is the vast array of activities adults have available to them. Stanek remains optimistic that with a conscious effort, team numbers will go up.
Duluth Parks and Recreation offers seven different adult sports including softball, touch football, basketball, broomball, hockey, volleyball and bocce ball. Registration for the sports range from $300 to $1,000 per team depending on the sport and equipment needed.
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The next team sport sign up is for touch football. The deadline is Aug. 15. For more information, contact Stanek at 723-3528.
Despite the lower numbers of teams, Moore said his team will be ready for the state tournament in August. The player manager said, "We're going to show up to play ball."
