Bring the heat

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www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com September 12, 2008

ANTHONY GLASSMAN

A member of the Cleveland ProRefine Angry Dragons bats against Kwame's Kids from Detroit on Sunday, August 31 during the Midwest Invitational Softball Tournament in Cleveland.

The annual tournament set a new record for the number of teams this year, with 36 squads coming from as far away as Madison, Toronto, Winston-Salem, St. Louis and Nashville. MIST co-chair Curt Gage believes that part of the reason so many teams turned out was the long distance to this year's North American Gay Amateur Athletic Association World Series, held in Seattle on the same weekend. People who would not travel so far but still wanted a last big weekend of softball came to Cleveland instead.

Another factor, he believes, is next year's introduction of Cincinnati as a host city for the tournament, which alternates between Cleveland, Detroit, Columbus, and now, the Queen City.

Gage pointed especially to teams from Nashville and Knoxville, who might normally have thought Cleveland was too far to drive, but who will likely be quite active next year. The addition of Cincinnati to the rotation brings the tournament back to its early days, when Pittsburgh played host once every four years. They dropped out about eight years ago, according to Gage.

In the C Competitive division, Knoxville Thunder took first place, followed up by Cleveland Twisted Bears and Columbus Q Bar. The C Recreational division saw Chicago first in the lead, with Columbus Molly Woo's in second and Cleveland Twisted Sisters in third.

The D-1 division title was taken by Detroit Funteam, with Columbus Spicegirls and Cleveland Crossover nipping at their heels, while the Madison Madd Dawgs clinched the D-2 division championships, followed by Detroit Liberty Bar Rebels and the Pittsburgh OutKasts.

-Anthony Glassman

Friday, September 12

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 5

KARAOKE w/Jammin' Ginger

Saturday, September 13

Softball Party!

Doors open @ 4pm for team members, 6pm for fans Bring a side or grillin food. (Team members should bring a main food item/side dish including plates, buns, condiments)

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