11th Annual C.B. Ball Bash this weekend

Local teams look to defend home turf

Softball teams from out of town, including one from out of state, are coming to Crested Butte this weekend for a shot at the 11th Annual Ball Bash softball tournament title.
The weekend kicks off Friday afternoon with a gathering to remember Tommy Villanueva. Tommy’s family invites all friends from throughout the valley to Tommy V Field on Friday, August 10 from 2-7 p.m. to share food, photos, stories and drinks.
Tournament play starts Saturday morning and continues throughout the day with games at Gothic and Tommy V Field. In addition to the four local teams, including defending champions the Tommyhawks, teams from Gunnison, Boulder, Telluride and a Villanueva led crew from Lake Forest, California will be mixing it up on the diamond.
Saturday’s action peaks that evening at Tommy V Field with the homerun derby. There will be a men’s and women’s division and $15 gets you a shot at a trophy, a t-shirt and bragging rights. Anyone got the guns to knock off two-time women’s champion Molly Keating or last years men’s winner Brian Murphy?
Sunday’s game schedule will be determined by Saturday’s results with the championship game scheduled for “sometime early that afternoon so teams can get home” according to Crested Butte parks and rec program director Lauren Alkire.
In addition to the tournament title hardware, there will be prizes for the Tommy V MVP and John Wheeler Sportsmanship award.
All proceeds from the tournament and homerun derby benefit youth sports and activity scholarships in Crested Butte.