Kickball
Crested Butte, CO - Though summer's warm temperatures brutally drag us away from 9-to-4 days of snow-filled glee, there is a plethora of activities that can help the time between last spring's corn snow and the first flakes of fall pass more quickly. Kickball is one of these pastimes. This Sunday, July 28, from 11am till dusk, 16 10-person teams will converge on Crested Butte's carefully manicured softball fields for the Wilderness Opportunities annual kickball tournament. Wilderness Opportunities (WO) is a nonprofit organization that provides underprivileged youth with opportunities to experience outdoor activities such as whitewater rafting, ropes courses, and mountain climbing through one- to three- week camps. The double-elimination kickball tournament is one of many creative ways WO has found to raise money.
Last year, in an intense, final-round face-off, Matchstick Productions' (MSP) team was ousted by the rough-and-tumble culinary specialists of The Last Steep. In one of the most intense match-ups in a town notorious for its competitiveness, MSP didn't let first prize-a bar tab at, ironically, The Last Steep Bar and Grill-fall without a struggle. Though MSP team member Wendy Fisher claims no one trained for the kickball showdown in the off-season, the team, coached by Steve Winter, won one game against the previously undefeated Team Steep before falling just short in the final. In a show of sportsmanship, Team Last Steep invited the whole tournament-spectators included-back to their eatery on Elk Avenue for a round of shots.
"I was having a great time until we played Last Steep," says Fisher, best known for ruthlessly charging Alaskan descents. "I just remember being scared out there, hoping the ball didn't come to me."
First prize this year is another $250 voucher to The Last Steep. In addition to the kickball tournament, there will be a live auction and music provided by High Mountain DJs. There are still a few spots open for teams of 10-the entry fee is $30 per person. All proceeds benefit Wilderness Opportunities. For more information, for team sign-up, or to make a donation, contact Wilderness Opportunities at 970-349-2590 or www.wildernessopp.com. -Jackie Baker