CARLYLE - Carlyle Minor Ball hosted the 2024 under-9 Borderline Softball Playoff Tournament.
Eleven teams participated in a round-robin tournament.
The league was divided into north and south divisions. In the north division, there were two teams from Moosomin, Whitewood, Kipling and Wawota.
In the south division, Carlyle, Carnduff, Arcola and Oxbow were joined by two teams from Redvers.
The opening day started with games at 9 a.m. and teams enjoying some great weather that allowed kids to play in some perfect Saskatchewan conditions.
Carlyle was a great place for the league to have its playoff tournament. The town has five diamonds that are perfect for most ages so Carlyle Minor Ball knew it could make this tournament happen. Its facilities are top notch and they cannot thank the Carlyle Lions Club enough for their continued support.
The Lions Club ran the canteen where kids, parents and grandparents enjoyed all the classic ballpark treats.
Some visiting teams also enjoyed some time at the Carlyle Swimming Pool when possible.
The U9 Carlyle Cardinals lost in the A side final against Carnduff in a 5-4 game that really showed off pitching, fielding, hitting and baserunning. The girls had a very big weekend of ball. Everyone was pretty hot, tired and dirty by the end but big smiles reflected everything and the girls were happy to take home a silver medal.
Carnduff had a very skilled team, well coached and very sportsmanlike.
The ball diamond energy was really electric all day, showcasing an amazing ball community coming together from hundreds of kilometers apart.
We are very lucky to have our great Lions Park. The newly-surfaced ball diamonds were in great shape, in part thanks to our community volunteers.
I'd like to thank everyone who volunteered to make this whole thing happen. People who stepped up to work the kitchen, sell 50/50 tickets, run the gate, maintain diamonds, make gift bags, keep score, umpire, plan and organize.
