Locals shine at the Muscular dystrophy ball tournament

Beating Ladysmith during a very close and exciting final game, Sunday, the Lake Cowichan Firefighters reigned triumphant during last weekend’s firefighter’s Slo-Pitch for Muscular Dystrophy baseball tournament.

Although baseball was the main area of attraction over the weekend, it was the weekend’s cause that was the most noteworthy, with early estimates revealing over $42,000 raised in the battle against Muscular dystrophy.

Witnessing Saturday’s live auction, headed by Youbou auctioneer Jeff Abbott, one could see just how this money was raised, with tee-shirts taking in around $100, and a Monopoly board game taking in $260 early on in the auction. There were a total of 772 items auctioned off throughout the afternoon, with the auction netting approximately $41,000.

The weekend of baseball action started Thursday, with about 20 fire-fighting participants marching in parade formation from Cobble Hill into Duncan, from Youbou to Lake Cowichan, and from Lake Cowichan to Mesachie Lake, with a few motorized shortcuts in less populated areas.

Letting their fire engines’ sirens sporadically roar into action as they entered communities, locals were alerted of their presence. Throughout their parade, about $1,100 was collected from supporters.

With the area around the Mesachie Lake Skydome packed with campers, Friday night saw the beginning of the baseball tournament that would continue until Sunday afternoon. Baseball players made full use of the field’s recent outer field expansion.

Although the Honeymoon Bay Firefighters team didn’t manage any wins in the tournament, they did manage to boast the expanded field’s first-ever home run.

Several exciting games took up Friday night and Saturday morning and early afternoon, with Sunday’s final four games the most exciting.

A semi-final game between Youbou and Ladysmith was an extremely tight one, keeping spectators on their toes with anticipation. Ladysmith ended up winning, kicking Youbou out of the competition. In Youbou’s defence, they did manage to stay in the tournament for an impressive four games.

At that point, the only two teams remaining were Lake Cowichan and Ladysmith.

The rivals’ first game didn’t leave much hope for Lake Cowichan, with Ladysmith scoring a very well deserved 17 to Lake Cowichan’s nine. The subsequent game, which determined the winner, was much closer, with Lake Cowichan kicking up their effort, taking a three-run win over Ladysmith, with a final score of 12 to nine.

Next year’s tournament is to take place at the same location during the Father’s Day weekend. The baseball tournament is open to local-area firefighters, providing they fund-raise for the tournament’s cause, Muscular dystrophy.

This was the tournament’s 31st year.

Tyler Clarke - Lake Cowichan Gazette
Published: June 21, 2010