As temperatures are beginning to drop and cold weather starting to come in, Local slo-pitch team, Caught Looking, hosted the ‘Beat the Heat’ tournament. The two day tournament served as the last set ball games for attending co-ed teams this year.
On October 8 and 9, nine teams all met up at the diamonds in Merritt Central Park to take part in the ‘Beat the Heat’ tournament. The invitational is set up by the co-ed team from Coldwater Indian Band, Caught Looking.
“It’s one of the last tournaments here in Merritt every year,” said Gerald Mackay, organizer of the tournament. “It’s been an ongoing thing for the past nine years. I just want to keep it going because everybody wants to play ball.”
‘Beat the Heat’ tournament. Izaiah Reyes/Herald
The invitational saw 5 teams from out of town, ranging from Vernon to the Lower Mainland, each vying for the championship.
“The turnout was decent, we’re happy with the teams who joined because every year there are teams who drop out right before the tournament.”
In the end, it was the Slow Pokes from the Lower Mainland who took the gold while Gwanden and Strikers took second and third place respectively.
Champions of the 2022 Beat the Heat invitational, Slow Pokes from the Lower Mainland. Photo/Gerald Mackay
Co-ed teams now take a break from play and will hit the diamonds again next spring.
