Hundreds of players, parents, volunteers and officials took to the ball diamonds for the 8th annual Innisfail Softball Tournament.
The three-day event for the girls of summer took place June 17 to 19 in Innisfail.
"All Innisfail teams in all levels competed and did well. If they didn't make the finals, they were runners-up in their divisions," said Tom DeRuyter, co-coordinator for the tournament. "It proves that we're very competitive in Central Alberta in softball."
A total of 34 teams from across Central Alberta, with 400 to 500 participants, played in 72 games during the three-day weekend event.
Innisfail had eight teams from all levels and divisions in the tournament including U-10, U-12, U-14, U-18 and U-19.
"One of the Innisfail girls teams won the (A final) U-12 division and all teams competed well and were in the running to make it into the medal rounds," he added.
At the end of each game in the tournament (excluding the finals), coaches chose a player from their team and presented her with an MVP Award.
DeRuyter said the success of the tournament is a good indicator of softball's popularity, the strong numbers in Innisfail and the growing interest in the sport.
"Our program has been run very well,” he said. “The grassroots program is paying off and the girls are staying with the game and gaining experience. We get stronger and stronger every year."
The annual tourney was a success this year thanks in part to helpful town staff, including peace officers, and the many parents and volunteers who rose to the occasion, said DeRuyter, noting the committed tournament committee and its work with ball diamond preparations, concession stands and raffle tables.
“(Committee member) Brian Epp took on the task of ensuring all the diamonds were ready on Friday,” he said. “He did a lot of work in the weeks leading up to the tournament, organizing and planning things out and making sure that the diamonds were in good, playable condition."
Proceeds raised at this year's tournament will help fund trips to out-of-town tournaments next year.
"Each year there's a legacy fund to help the next year's group and assist them with funding to attend other out-of-town tournaments," explained DeRuyter. "Every season every team will attend two out-of-town tournaments plus their own."
Year after year, the success of the Innisfail Softball Tournament speaks for itself.
"People like to come back to Innisfail after eight years of tournaments. Rick and Michelle Blais played a huge part in growing this tournament in Innisfail and growing Innisfail softball," said DeRuyter. "People have learned that it is a great tournament over the years. Rain or shine we manage to make it work."
Tom DeRuyter
"Our program has been run very well. The grassroots program is paying off and the girls are staying with the game and gaining experience. We get stronger and stronger every year."
