Tournament brings in $1,400 for Parks and Rec.

Though it was over 90 degrees outside several co-ed softball teams came together to raise funds for Malta's Department of Parks and Recreation last Saturday, July 13, at Trafton Park.

Between the event's registration, concession sales, a fire pit raffle, and a 50-50 raffle, the event raised a total of $1463.

"It was amazing support and we just really appreciate all of it, especially for how hot it was,"Malta Parks and Recreation Director Julia Tatafu told the PCN. "We appreciate all of the businesses that helped make this possible to have this tournament and have concessions available at this tournament."

The event featured Tom Bedwell, John Newman, and Darren Demarais as umpires. Janice Knudsen kept stats for the games.

The event was won by Battin Buddies, a team sponsored by Havre's branch of Independence Bank. Battlin Buddies defeated Independence Bank-Phillips County Insurance (IB-PCI) 14-5 in the championship game.

"It feels amazing," Battin Buddies Captain Zach Cichosz said. "Hats off to the other team; they have played five out of the six hours that this was running. This is awesome. It's always nice to be able to support a small community with something like this. We all love this sport, so if we can help out, we try to any chance we can."

IB-PCI took a long path to the championship, having to battle through four games. Having lost in the second round to Battin Buddies. Before their first loss to Battin Buddies, IB-PCI defeated the Brew Jays 13-2 in the opening round. In the second round of the elimination bracket IB-PCI defeated the Brew Jays 5-4, and then defeated Heavy Hitters 10-3 in the semi-finals.

"Everyone is getting along really well and everyone is patting each other on the back and that is really helpful," IB-PCI Captain Jake Stuart said. "We are taking turns getting sprayed with the hose and that helps. We are rotating players."

Battin Buddies defeated Heavy Hitters 11-10 in their semi-finals clash.

"We just had to keep fighting," Cichosz said of his team's run to the championship game. "We played a really good team in the semis and we just had to keep fighting regardless of what was going."

During their 14-5 championship win over IB-PCI, the Battin Buddies showing experience and skill in their win.

"We knew we could hit," Cichosz said. "It just takes us a little while to get started and once we are rolling, we are tough to stop."

IB-PCI scored a run in the first inning, but the Battin Buddies responded right away, earning a run in the bottom of the first off of a sac-fly from Cichosz, which scored Josh Haas from third base. IB-PCI would score two runs off of a base hit by Scott Ost in the third inning. The score was 2-1. IB-PCI would go up 4-2 in the third thanks to a two-rbi double from Stuart.

The bats warmed up for Battin Buddies as they went on to score six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The score was 8-4. The Battin Buddies poured on more runs and ultimately won 14-5.