Slowpitch tournament hits Moses Lake
IAN BIVONA | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 4 months AGO
Ian Bivona serves as the Columbia Basin Herald’s sports reporter and is a graduate of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. He enjoys the behind-the-scenes stories that lead up to the wins and losses of the various sports teams in the Basin. Football is his favorite sport, though he likes them all, and his favorite team is the Jets. He lives in Soap Lake with his cat, Honey. | July 4, 2022 12:44 PM
MOSES LAKE - Slowpitch softball teams from around the state gathered at Larson Playfield and the Paul Lauzier Athletic Complex in Moses Lake this weekend for the Big Band tournament.
Teams completed pool play on Saturday before entering a single-elimination tournament on Sunday.
“I run about 5-6 tournaments,” said Isaac Valdez, World Sports League regional director. “I have directors that run tournaments in the Tri-Cities area and directors that run tournaments on the west side of the state that run tournaments over there.”
The tournament featured two divisions, with the 18 participating teams being divided into groups of nine.
“It’s a decision based on how teams perform, wins and losses, a lot of things to consider,” Valdez said. “What level they played, that all has to run through myself as far as classifying where they should be.”
The dugouts played 90s hip-hop and rock music on speakers, featuring the likes of DMX, Dr. Dre and more throughout play. The softball fields at the Paul Lauzier athletic complex were overtaken by the teams and their families to watch the games and “hang out.”
“On this side of the state we actually like to have the family environment,” Valdez said. “We like to hang out.”
Teams gathered to Moses Lake from all around Washington and Oregon, Valdez said, bringing in their teams for a fun competition.
“[The teams are] really from all around the state,” Valdez said. “We got a couple from Oregon, just outside of Tri-Cities there, we got some from the west side that come over. But a lot of them are local like Tri-Cities, Yakima, Moses Lake, Spokane a little bit.”
Advertising for the tournament was mainly done on Facebook, through the WSL page and website. Valdez said that he also reached out to his friends for interest in participating.
“Everything’s advertised on Facebook,” he said, “We have a WSL website as well as a WSL Facebook page. It’s advertised on there as well as friends of mine that I know from networking and all that stuff.”
Valdez noted that the WSL community is one of giving back to the community.
“It’s really a community of giving, and will help out with anybody that’s in need,” Valdez said. “That’s really what we’re about.”
Team names like Bad Boyz, Vizzibly Impaired, Monstars, Gorilla Mafia and others were present on the softball fields this weekend, all vying to win the tournament. Team entry cost $350 and had a four-game minimum guarantee, with three games of pool play and a spot in the single-elimination tournament. To the dismay of spectators and players alike, the tournament was called off on Sunday, Valdez said in a Facebook post.
Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.
