Firecracker softball tourney hosted by St. Regis
<p>TJ Philip goes up to bat during the championship game for his team sponsored by Loko Joes, a bar in St. Regis.</p>
ST. REGIS – Teams from as far away as Idaho and across Montana descended on the community of St. Regis Saturday and Sunday to compete in the annual Firecracker Softball Tournament.
Tournament organizer Larry Kelley said the event has been held in St. Regis for nearly 40 years and is popular with teams from around the region. Kelley said he had played in the last 30 Firecracker tournaments. He said the ten teams that signed up to play this year may take the event seriously, but the point was to have a good time.
“I don’t really know how it all started,” Kelley said. “I don’t know who started it way back when. Back then everybody just liked to play softball and we’ve been trying to keep it together ever since.”
Kelley said first through third place finishers would take home prizes. He said the event is widely considered among teams to be one of the most fun tournaments in the area.
“A lot of the guys keep coming back because while they do take it seriously, it’s also a lot of fun,” Kelley said. “It’s a fun tournament and everyone enjoys it.”
Final results were not available before deadline. The Drifters finished in third place and Nate Harris received the Golden Glove award for outstanding fielding.