The season opener co-ed softball tournament took place on the weekend, despite some rainy, cold weather with a dash of lightning thrown into the mix.

According to Softball Yukon Executive Director George Arcand, 21 teams took part in the tourney.

“We played the four divisions, 21 teams, so it was a good mix.”

Big Bear Donair captured Division 4, while the Bearcat Construction Beercats clawed their way to the Division 3 title with a win over the Twin Peaks Sharknados.

In the Division 2 final, Little Horse Landscaping triumphed over the Yukon Yardworks Diggers.

The Division 1 final between the Tri-Tech Sliders and the Northern Construction Tomahawks went down to the wire.

Tri-tech got off to a great start, taking a 6-1 lead on Northern Construction, but the Tomahawks chopped their way back for a 6-6 tie. The Sliders edged ahead of the Tomahawks 7-6, but the Northern Construction side again erased the deficit and forced the Sliders to make a comeback of their own to tie the game 9-9 going into the seventh inning.

The Tomahawks failed to cash in a run in the top of the inning, setting the stage for the heroics of Tyrell Hope of the Sliders. Hope had hope, as he drilled a pitch deep into right field which eluded the Tomahawk outfielders. Hope rounded the bases and came in for the game-winning inside-the park home run.

After the game, Hope said it felt good to hit the winning home run.

“I was struggling with my bats on the weekend and it was a great team effort to come back and keep the game tied ... I was just the fortunate guy at the end of the game to get the lucky hit – got on my horse and made it all the way around the bags.”

“I knew it was going deep and there was a chance that one of the fielders were going to make it,” said Hope.

“I thought I was making a double for sure and when it hit the ground and went between ‘em I just turned and put my head down and that was it,” he added.

Hope said it also felt good to win the championship.

“Great team effort all weekend long. We played really well together and it was nice to come out with a win in a really close final game for the people that were here and came out. It’s a great feeling to come out on top.”

Hope added the poor weather didn’t have much of an effect on the weekend.

“No, we had one little delay yesterday with the lightning; we had a half-hour delay, but this morning ... there was a little bit of rain. I thought we were gonna have to play in the rain with a wet ball, but Mother Nature decided to hold up for us and she stayed nice out there for the final game.”

The weather was a topic with Arcand as well but he, too, said the weather didn’t spoil the fun.

“Considering the rain and the cold weather, it went well. Teams seemed to have ... a good time.”

Arcand said the weather didn’t really affect the scheduling, either.

“Actually, we were right on time. Yesterday, we had a bit of lightning, so that cost us (a) 30-minute delay, but other than that, it was fine.”

Overall, Arcand was pleased with the way the weekend went.

“It was great ... it’s only our second tournament since the beginning of COVID, so it was good to see everybody back in the park and coming back to meet each other and play ball.”

Arcand added “I think it’s great. We’re looking forward to the rest of the season and hope the weather gets better.”