Labor Day tourney has poor turnout

What was supposed to be an event for government employees to demonstrate pride in their individual agencies through a little friendly competition turned out to be more of a festival of forfeiture during Public Service Recognition Week Labor Day Softball Tournament this weekend.

With the weather wreaking havoc upon the calendars of the local outdoor sporting venues, the schedule for the 2004 Labor Day Softball Tournament was no different. Majority of games were to have begun over a week ago, but due to poor field conditions at the Oleai Sports Complex, the games and venue were changed.

The opening round of slow-pitch softball got underway on Saturday, Aug. 7, at 9am at the Koblerville Elementary School softball field, featuring a match-up between the MPLA and the CUC. The only problem was that the game wasn’t played due to a shortage of players on the side of the power brokers.

The second game was to pit the staff of NMC against the OPA, but once again there was a forfeit because NMC didn’t have enough players. There was almost a complete game played at 11am between DLNR and DPW, but DPW could only field nine of the 10 necessary players. They made it as far as the third inning before batter No. 10 in the lineup failed to show at the plate, ending the game via forfeit. It should also be noted that DLNR was leading by a score of 12-0 at the time of the cessation of activities.

The fourth game was also a forfeit in favor of DCCA, as DPH couldn’t fill up the line-up. Salvation was had in the fifth game as DPS played a full game against DOLI. The boys in blue emerged victorious in the first official completed game by a score of 11-3.

Unfortunately, it would also be the final complete game of the day as the remaining three games all ended in forfeits.

“I have no idea what happened. I think that maybe some of the players were scared off by the weather, but I sent a fax to all of the teams to let them know that this would be a rain or shine event,” said Liz Palacios, Sports and Games Committee chair for the 2004 Labor Day Softball Tournament.

Players didn’t have to worry about the rain portion of the tournament, as the weather was perfect for a change. The second day of the tournament started up yesterday morning at the time, on the same field, and with the same results.

This time it was Commerce that forfeited their contest with MPLA at 9am, and a repeat performance by CUC at 10am, as they gift-wrapped a victory for NMC. DPH had the players to play in the third game of the day, but it was DPW who failed to pony up the players. With eight games scheduled for each day, it is disappointing to the players who show up, but even more so for the organizers who get there early, only to stay until the final game that doesn’t get played.

“It’s surprising. They said rain or shine, so the players should be here,” said Ray Palacios.

The tournament format has a total of 32 games, and at the close of the second day, only two were completed. As Palacios pointed out, there is no clear-cut favorite in the tournament, and that is mainly because the organizers provided for the enjoyment of all by taking some liberties with the regular softball rules.

For instance, the women on the coed teams are allowed to take their turns batting as per their usual. However, all the men are obliged to take their swings from the opposite side of the plate.

The teams also gain extra points toward the perpetual trophy if their department head participates in the event. Aside from softball, there are volleyball and basketball tournaments in which the agencies can win points. The points will be tallied and a winner announced on Sunday, Sept. 5, when the Labor Day festivities come to a close following a “Fear Factor” event. The organizers are being tightlipped about the details but they promise that it will be fun for all in attendance.

DCCA is the defending champion of the games for two years running, and they are shooting for their third. According to John Reyes of the DCCA, they are confident that they can pull it off once again.

The softball tournament is schedule to continue next weekend with games on Saturday and Sunday, and at the Oleai Sports Complex—if the field conditions allow. If not, the games will return to Koblerville.