Softball tournament gives Linden cause to celebrate

At Linden’s first slow-pitch softball tournament Saturday, bag toss and barbecue on the sidelines were about as popular as the games on the field.

The event was something of a community gathering and celebration

The field — Linden’s former American Legion Park, featuring an antique pickle shed — had been well-groomed. Some 70 to 80 players were milling around with 100 or more fans stopping by to get some funnel cake and lemonade as well.

Six teams from the region were present as play started at 10 a.m. The games might go on into the wee hours of the morning. At stake was a $600 championship takehome first prize, with $400 going to the second place team and T-shirts to the third.

The tournament sponsored by Linden’s Hit Men softball team is planned to become a regular occurrence. The Hit Men already have their weekends booked through Sept. 7 for other tournaments.

Play is a lot of fun, but make no mistake, these are pretty good athletes. It’s not church league. The ball is hard, heavy and fast and goes a long way off the aluminum bats.

One rumor was that one team on one occasion had a real former major league baseball player on its squad.

A squad, by the way, is 10 players to a team. There’s an umpire and insurance forms everyone on the field inside the fence must sign. The tournament is run seriously, the game is rigorous.

There’s no coaching and hardly any complaints. The tournament is really about fun and has a lot of camaraderie.

“We hope one day to have a c0-ed team and tournament,” says Linden leader Paul Woodruff. “And we know the young boys and girls are already practicing out here and taking responsibility.”

Linden’s venue for the games is a well-lighted field now in a state of refined upkeep. Players both young and old are responsible for the restoration. The city of Linden has added its help and encouragement.

This occasion for more games in this park is quite promising. The grounds have a history of local play and good times. Plumbing and concession stands have been upgraded. There’s plenty of parking, grass and shade.

One day the antique pickle shed may be rescued and turned into a gathering place with a roof and, perhaps, some vegetables for sale on the side.

Out in center field, there’s an even more imaginative possibility. Outside the fence and across the road, it is said there are three ponds off in the woods. Even a walking trail. No one’s for sure yet, but there’s a glimmer in the eye when the question is considered whether that area could be turned into a community asset.

And so, slow-pitch softball is off to a good start. Leader Woodruff said the locals are looking into a scoreboard for the outfield.

“We hold a couple more of these tournaments, and we may be on our way,” Woodruff said.

Here’s a clincher for a good time by all.

Each tournament usually has a home run derby in the middle of the day. All play stops, and anyone from the sidelines to the dugouts can pick up a bat, pay $10 and try to see who can hit the best and most home runs off that slow throwing pitcher.

The prize is getting all that contestant fee money. So start practicing everyone.

Photo by Neil Abeles ■ Six teams from Louisiana and Northeast Texas came to play in Linden’s Slow-Pitch Softball Tournament Saturday at Legion Field.

Photos by Neil Abeles ■ ABOVE: Blaise Meyers of Shreveport, La., is putting on the barbecue for his team and fans between games. The team’s name is “Put Them on a Shirt,” he said.

Photos by Neil Abeles ■ ABOVE: Bean-bag toss is an important sideline game at softball tournaments, which sometimes will last all day long and into the early morning hours of the next day. The tournament turned into a community gathering and celebration.

■ LEFT: Jo Munoz of Keene, Texas, gets a bit of funnel cake from Josh Lane of Linden’s Lane Concessions during the slow-pitch softball tournament.

Photo by Neil Abeles ■ RIGHT: Bethany Cox shows the T-shirts she’s had made which will go as a reward to the third-place winning team in Linden’s slow-pitch softball tournament.

■ LEFT: A slow-pitch softball tournament is usually well-managed and regulated.