The stage was set for a Chicago team to win the top-tiered C1 Division in the Chi-Town Classic ( photos by Ross Forman ) , the predominantly gay softball tournament held July 4-5, with teams from Las Vegas, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and several other cities.
Hunters faced the Philadelphia Triple Play, and the visitors from Pennsylvania needed to win twice—and back-to-back, no less. Hunters only needed one win.
Things didn't work out as the locals planned, or hoped.
Philadelphia won the second and deciding championship game, 8-7, despite strong weekend play from such Hunters players as Brian Kettner, Joe Green, Greg McNitt, Joe Cappelletti, Chuck Jacobson, Rob Scaffidi, Danny Tag, Nick Padjen and others.
"It was a very good tournament for our first year, a good learning experience," said Shawn Albritton of the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association ( CMSA ) , which ran the two-day event that featured a rainy Saturday ( and a few postponed games ) and a Sunday that shone throughout like the defensive play of such participating Chicago teams as those representing Caesar's, Spin, Fat Cat, Cattle Call and other area establishments.
"Hopefully next year we'll be able to attract more teams and also expand to include a B Division; that would be nice to have," Albritton added.
In the C2 Division, the Madd Dawgs ( Madison, Wis. ) defeated the Twin Cities Bears 13-1 and 7-2 for the title. The New York Eagles Wings were third, followed by Fat Cat.
In the D Division, the Minneaplois Unicorns defeated the Broadway Cellar's Crush 15-5 and 18-14 for the crown.
The Sportsmanship Awards, voted on by the umpires, went to the Memphis Dru's Place Maniacs, the Madd Dawgs and the Unicorns.
"It was an awesome event, even with the rain on Saturday. We're very happy that Chicago again has a softball tournament [ it hosts ] ," said the event's director, Jason Helsdon.