Ken Kazmaki of Global Force of Burnaby Canada strikes a single during their game with the Rogues of Medford, Oregon Tuesday morning. “We’ve been together for 15 years just friends loving softball,” said Kazmaki. Photo by Lou Martin

Ken Kazmaki of Global Force of Burnaby Canada strikes a single during their game with the Rogues of Medford, Oregon Tuesday morning. “We’ve been together for 15 years just friends loving softball,” said Kazmaki.
Photo by Lou Martin

“Everyone I talked to loves coming to Mesquite. Of course, they like the extended summer, but they also appreciate our beautiful ballfields and friendly hospitality. In fact, many continue to stay in Mesquite even while they are playing in the Huntsman softball tournament in St. George,” says Terri Rylander, President of Mesquite Senior Games.

With that, the Mesquite Senior Games sponsored the Can/Am Softball Tune-up to the Huntsman Games which concluded Tuesday afternoon Oct.11 at Hunter Park with finals in the 50 and 55 age brackets. The event has been held annually since the 1990’s pitting teams from across Canada and the USA. Canadian teams from Ontario, Canada to British Columbia competed against USA teams from New York, Florida, Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Utah California and Nevada in friendly competition. The tourney has been called the ‘Tune-up for the Huntsman Games’ which begins softball play on October 12 in St. George Utah. This pre-Huntsman Games tourney gives slow-pitch softball enthusiasts another competitive tourney while traveling in Utah and Nevada.

The Mesquite Can/Am Tournament follows the same rules and regulations as the Huntsman Games. Play began on the weekend of Sept. 30-Oct. 2 as 60 and 65-year-old brackets met head to head in single elimination rounds. Northern Exposure defeated Agway Steel for the title. Tomasos won the 65 year old division. Rose enterprise won the 65AAA Division over Rox 26-25.

The 70 and 75 age groups began play on Oct.7-8 with the Rockies 70 team going 5-0 to win the 70 Division. Mesquite Geezers took third place. Hanningtons won the 74+ Division quite easily.

Tuesday’s winners in the 50/55 age group were the Czech Farm Boys from Ontario, Canada who defeated the Rogues from Medford, Oregon in the finals 16-15. “It was a great tournament,” said Mesquite Senior Games Director Terri Rylander. “We began with 34 teams two weeks ago in a round robin format. Everyone I spoke to had a great time in Mesquite.”