SACRAMENTO, CA – March came in like a Banshee at the 8th annual Early Bird tournament at the Sacramento Softball Complex March 1st and 2nd. Team BPS destroyed WSC of Santa Rosa 24-8 in the 7:20 final. WSC was looking to sweep the tournament after a close win over Dolla’s Bolla’s and a 20-7 dismantling of the BGM Construction Banshees.

BPS scored 13 runs in the first inning and the outcome was never in doubt as they stormed past 4-0 WSC of Santa Rosa in a 20-7, mercy-rule victory to take the D division championship on Saturday night. The Weakest Team recovered from an early loss to knock off the Money Shots 17-5 in another quick game Sunday evening to take the co-ed championship.

The Banshees advanced to the final round with an easy win over Creation, while WSC was locked in a ten-inning free for-all on field 3. The weather was clear but windy and as the sun went down the temperature dropped quickly.

At 3-0, the final undefeated team on the D side, WSC went up against Dolla’s Bolla’s, and needed all 4 of the runs they were spotted as an E team. They held a fragile 13-10 lead in the top of the 7th, but watched it melt away as the sun dropped. Dolla’s Bollla’s rallied to go up 15-13 in the top of the ninth, and seemed to have all the momentum they needed, but Teddy “Ballgame” Webber stroked a bases-loaded, two-out triple to drive in the tying and winning runs in heroic fashion, setting up the final with BGM.

Team Smoke Paradise was locked in a duel with Mobb on field 4, playing the last game of the night for the E Division championship directly into the teeth of the wind. Mobb had come back from trailing 12-1 to Team Smoke in the previous game, which they ended up winning 16-14. Only the hardiest fans were still on hand as the teams fought it out in the 8:20 game.

The weather was nicer on Sunday afternoon as 15 co-ed teams fought it out. By five o’clock, the Money Shots were in shape to run away with the crown after knocking off The Weakest Team 17-10. But the “if” game was one too many, and doing it twice in a row was more than they could handle.

The Weakest Team put up 12 runs in a first inning that seemed to last all night and The Money Shots had trouble putting runners on base throughout the game. It ended on a comeback bouncer to the mound with the Money Shots still chasing two runs to make it a seven inning game. The 17-5 final score seemed generous for a game that was never seriously in doubt.