Weathering The Storm

After a last-minute change of venue, the 4th annual Aaron Chatten Memorial Softball Tournament was a big success.

The Screaming Gophers of Frazer defeated F N' Classy of Sidney in the two-game championship by the scores of 19-7 and 23-12.

"The tournament was probably the smoothest year we've had," said co-organizer of the tournament Brenner Flaten.

Although the tournament had to be moved from Glasgow to Fort Peck due to less-than-desirable field conditions at Sullivan Park, the tournament saw its highest number of teams in its four-year existence with ten teams taking part in the event.

Flaten said that it was disappointing that the tournament couldn't be held in Glasgow this year, but said that the facility in Fort Peck was more than capable of holding the event. The venue hosted the tournament its first two years of operation.

Standing water in the outfield at Sullivan Park from a storm earlier in the week caused organizers to move the tournament back to Fort Peck. Teams were informed of the venue change mid-Thursday according to Flaten.

Our preference is to have this tournament in Glasgow," Flaten said. "It would allow us to increase the number of teams participating in the event with the number of fields we'd have access to."

Flaten said that organizers hope to attract as many as 30 teams for the tournament in the coming years.

Organizers have also began discussing what to do with the proceeds raised from the tournament. Flaten said that a couple of the priorities would be to put a scoreboard up at the Fort Peck field and also improve aspects of the Sullivan complex as well.

Another bright spot from the proceeds that Flaten and fellow tournament organizers hope to get off the ground this year is to establish a $500 scholarship for one male and one female graduate of Glasgow High School.

"We want to do things with the money that would benefit the youth of Glasgow and outdoor activities," said Flaten.