The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Grip it and rip it
by Than Acuff
This year marks the 14th annual Crested Butte Ball Bash, a coed softball tournament that draws talent from throughout Colorado to raise money and remember local softball player and all-around great guy Tommy Villanueva.
Last year the tournament reached its nexus with 12 teams signed up and this year it’s shaping up to be the same, as the tournament is full once again with 12 teams signed up.
Five local teams, including the official Tommy V team, the Tommyhawks, are in, as are three teams from Gunnison, a Telluride squad, a team from Montrose and a new team out of Grand Junction poised to bring some Western Slope brawn to the local fields.
“We have a good mix,” says Crested Butte parks and recreation coordinator Kyle Thomas.
The teams will be split into two pools of round robin-style scheduling. The action starts bright and early Saturday, August 8 at 8 a.m. with games all day at all three fields—Tommy V, Gothic and, new this year, Pitsker Field. Sock It To Me street food will be at Tommy V Field slinging concessions for fans and players alike.
Pool play continues Sunday morning at Tommy V and Gothic Field until the semi-finals at 12:15. The game for third place will follow that and the championship game is scheduled to be on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Tommy V Field.
No Ball Bash would be complete though without a Home Run Derby. This year’s Home Run Derby will be Saturday evening at Tommy V Field at 5 p.m. There are 30 spots available and registration is $20 per person. Anyone—men and women, whether playing in the tournament or not—can register for the Home Run Derby at tournament headquarters at Tommy V Field on Saturday before 4:30 p.m.
Men’s and women’s champions will be awarded the Home Run Derby flask and a $50 gift certificate from The Last Steep.
Sunday afternoon one champion team will emerge. Awards will be handed out accordingly, including the Tommy Villanueva Memorial MVP Award and the John Wheeler Memorial Sportsmanship Award.
All proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Tommy Ruben Villanueva Sports and Recreation Fund and the Crested Butte Parks and Recreation Scholarship Fund.
Ask yourself: WWTVD.
