JIM SINCLAIR/Stettler Independent
For about 30 years the early July slo-pitch and baseball weekend has been a fixture in Castor, largely thanks to the efforts of J.D. Johnson.
This past weekend was no exception as motorhomes and RVs of all descriptions crammed the areas around the local ball diamonds adjoining the golf course.
Fourteen slo-pitch teams and six baseball teams were in the thick of the competition, arriving from across the province, most had no problem finding their way.
“Most of them are returnees,” said Halkirk native Johnson, relaxing with friends outside a fifth wheel on a breezy Saturday afternoon.
“A lot have some sort of connection with Castor.”
Action was continuing on all fronts as of Saturday afternoon as well over 200 milled about getting ready to play or were in the middle games. The event was scheduled to wrap up Sunday afternoon with cash prizes for the top squads.
Rosalind won the A side of the baseball tournament with a 6-2 victory over Coronation.
Stettler won the B side with a 5-2 victory over Lougheed. The other two teams in the tournament were Heisler and the host Raiders.
Winning the A side in slow pitch was the Stealers team from Big Valley over the Wolfpack from Gadsby.
B side was the Mitts and Sticks from Stettler over the Bumps and Balls from Lacombe.
C winners were the Deep Balls, a team from Castor which included players from Edmonton that were originally from Castor.
They beat We Got the Runs from Olds.
D event winners were the Souper Freaks, retired teacher Cliff Campbell’s family team, which won in a squeaker (extra innings) over the Castor Vig Pigs.
The E event was won by the Loft from Red Deer over Project Mayhem, also from Red Deer.
“It was a great tournament considering the weather,” said J.D. Johnson.
Part of the proceeds will be used to purchase new bases for the diamonds.