Chicago once again is playing host to a gay softball tournament.
The 4th annual Chi-Town Softball Classic will be held Saturday-Sunday, July 4-5, with games played on seven fields at Lincoln Park and Waveland Fields. The tournament was last held in 2005.
"A group of us got together last October and we were upset that Chicago was not hosting a tournament, so we decided to re-form," a tournament committee, said Jason Helsdon who, since February, has been the tournament director. "All of the other major cities host [ gay softball ] tournaments; we just thought Chicago should be no exception."
About 40 teams are expected for play in C and D Divisions, including about 17 local teams. About 600 players are expected, with teams coming from Boston, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Memphis, among other cities.
"The tournament will be a lot of fun, with a lot of competitive softball … and lots of drinking, because that's also part of these softball tournaments," Helsdon said, laughing. "There really will be some well-played softball."
About 95 percent of the players will be gay, Helsdon said, though the Chicago Breeze is an all-women team in the D-Division. "I hear they're very good, so the boys better watch out," said Helsdon, 31, who lives in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood.
The tournament is co-sponsored by Aquafina and Subaru.
Here's a look at some of the top Chicago-based teams scheduled to compete in the Chi-Town Softball Classic:
—C1 Division:
1. Hunters
2. Spin Wildcats
3. Cattle Call Beef
—C2 Division:
1. Wild Pug
2. Fat Cat
3. Cesar's Killers
—D Division:
1. Just Indulge
2. Big Chicks Wicked
3. Lucky Charmers