Last weekend’s hurricane didn’t keep away the hundreds of lesbian softball players and their friends and family who braved the weather for a national softball competition.
The world series of the Amateur Sports Alliance of North America brought 52 teams to Philadelphia, drawing a total crowd of about 1,300 people.
Philadelphia’s City of Brotherly Love Softball League was dominant in the series, with local teams taking the top places in all three divisions.
The NJ Gems won the B Division, Sunday’s Hangover tied with Atlanta’s Gamma for the top spot in the C Division and Simon’s 369ers came out on top in the D Division.
Fort Lauderdale’s New Moon Pride and Long Beach’s All In took second and third place, respectively, in the B Division, while San Diego’s Aberration and New York City’s Silent Assassins claimed those places in the C Divisions and CBLSL’s Foul Play and Madison’s MissFits placed second and third, respectively, in the D Division.
Teams began arriving last Sunday and kept busy sightseeing and barhopping for several days before the games began Wednesday.
“I think they got a good taste of Philly,” said CBLSL women’s commissioner Cathy Harris. “There was nice weather before the games started so they went out and saw the sites, took in the history. There’s so much to do here, it’s not just a city where you tour one day and you’re bored — you can squeeze a lot into several days. One person might want to go to the Franklin Mint, and the next person might want to do cheesesteak tasting in South Philly — there’s something for everyone.”
Once the games did begin, Mother Nature wasn’t so agreeable.
The grounds crew at the West Deptford, N.J., fields wasn’t on the premises for the games during Thursday’s storms, so volunteers pitched in to ensure all six fields were ready for play.
The teams got in a majority of the games Thursday, despite the mud, but play was eventually called for rain.
Friday’s games went on well into the night, causing many of the players to miss the ASANA tailgating party at the Gay Community Night at the Phillies game.
The championship matchups Saturday finished mostly before the rain came, although the C division game was interrupted by the weather and called in a tie after the third inning, and the weather also forced the cancellation of a Gayborhood street festival and awards ceremony.
Despite the rain, however, Harris said the series was still a success.
“I think everyone felt a lot of friendliness from Philadelphia,” she said. “They saw why we’re the City of Brotherly Love; they were really welcomed. And I think we need to give a big round of applause to CBLSL and all the volunteers. The volunteers are the ones who made all of this possible. Even though they don’t get paid, their efforts were priceless.”
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].
