Memorial Day Tournament kicks off Softball Season

Despite cool and occasionally wet weather over the weekend, 8 teams played three days of softball in downtown Talkeetna for the annual Memorial Day Softball Tournament.

Differing accounts put the tournament at between 28 and 35 years running.

Pat Cunningham says he’s been coming for the three-day tournament for a long time.

[audio:https://ktna.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/1Softball.mp3|titles=1Softball]

Cunningham’s current team, the Brew Crew, were undefeated heading in to the championship game. Greg Pierson, also on the Brew Crew, said their team’s strength was in the lineup:

[audio:https://ktna.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2Softball.mp3|titles=2Softball]

The Championship game was played late on Sunday between the Mandingos and the Brew Crew. The Mandingos had just finished a win against the Cronies to advance to the final. Walt Kaso handled the pitching for the Mandingos, and he says the team is as old as softball in Talkeetna.

[audio:https://ktna.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/3Softball.mp3|titles=3Softball]l

In the end, the Brew Crew edged out the Mandingos in the final innings of the game to take a win by 20 to 17.