SPARKS, NV - After weeks of spring-like weather in Northern Nevada, winter made its way back into the area just in time for softball season. Eight teams from the Reno area competed against each other-- and the elements-- in the 16 Inch Chicago Ball tournament held at Golden Eagle Regional Park on March 1. The tournament was the first of the year at the Sparks complex.

Free Agents (Sparks, NV) beat All Out (Sun Valley, NV) 14-12 in extra innings to take the championship game on the rainy and windy Sunday afternoon.
Free Agents came out swinging and it looked as if the championship would easily be theirs after posting seven runs in the first inning. But All Out continually chipped away at the lead, and with no time left in the seventh inning, tied the game up at 12 with a two run, in the park homerun over the right fielder’s head.

The eighth inning was scoreless, but in the top of the ninth, Free Agents picked up two runs on back to back RBI singles by Billy Frasca and Andrew Eidson. All Out threatened to score in the bottom of the inning putting runners on first and second with only one out, but a double play ended the game.
While the conditions were far from ideal, most players were glad to get out and start playing tournament ball again.
“It was great to get out and play softball with friends today, at least until the winds picked up,” said Eidson.
Free Agents, one of two co-ed teams in the tournament, ended the day with a perfect 6-0 record.
In the consolation game, Frozen Rope (Carson City, NV) beat War Party (Yerington, NV) 7-2 to take third place.