Kickball in Crested Butte
The Brick Oven Rasta Hairnets beat the Mountain Sports International (MSI) team, anchored by big mountain heroes Dave Swanwick and Adam Comey, in this year's Wilderness Opportunities (WO) annual kickball tournament in Crested Butte, Colorado. It's the second year in a row that a star-studded team loaded with pro skiers was toppled by a local restaurant in the finals.
"The whole look was frightening. I think we were intimidated by their outfits," said Comey of the Rasta Hairnets red, yellow, and green wife-beaters and gangster-style hairnets.
More importantly though, WO raised $5,000 in cash and $12,000 total in cash, product, and in-kind support-a huge step up from last year's tournament, which raised $5,000 total in cash, product, and in-kind support. 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. WO Program Director Dave Green was blown away by the community's support. "This is a real grassroots event," explained Green. "We're not shaking the pockets of wealthy people. These are broke ski bums who raised $5,000."
The game came down to the final inning. With the score tied four to four, two outs, and the bases loaded, Bill Connelly of the Rasta Hairnets channeled the power of Jah into one last kick. While MSI scrambled to make a forced out at third, Crested Butte Academy soccer coach Matt Gutter was already feeling irie as he jammed his way across home plate.
Some controversy arose over whether the final run should have counted. "Technically in baseball, I don't think you can score a run on a force out," said Comey. This is kickball, not a baseball game, however, and the decision was left up to umpire Kirk "The Captain" Osterling. It seemed the grass-and-roots nature of the competition was in favor of the Rasta Hairnets, as "The Captain" counted the run and the out, ending the game.
The Rasta Hairnets were awarded the game ball, as well as a $250 gift certificate to The Last Steep Restaurant for their victory. "It was more fun than you can imagine playing kickball. A 100 percent blast," said part-owner of the Brick Oven Restaurant, Dan Loftus.
"We will play next year; we have to avenge this loss," preached Comey. While Swany was off in New Zealand and unavailable for comment, Comey admitted they were out-matched against the Brick Oven team. "We just got beat. It was a really good game that came down to the last out." -Brian McLeod