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Softball survives Saturday showers

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Riverside Tavern’s shortstop Tyler Kielty drives a pitch to left field at the Watecade softball tournament on the morning of July 12. Riverside Tavern lost the morning game to ACC/MKC/HPH, a team from Hutchinson. Riverside Tavern was one of several teams featuring mostly local players.

Riverside Tavern’s shortstop Tyler Kielty drives a pitch to left field at the Watecade softball tournament on the morning of July 12. Riverside Tavern lost the morning game to ACC/MKC/HPH, a team from Hutchinson. Riverside Tavern was one of several teams featuring mostly local players.Staff Photo by Louie Opatz

Riverside Tavern’s leftfielder Jordan Lecher nearly robbed a home run in his team’s first game of the 26-team Watercade softball tournament. Instead, the ball deflected off his glove and over the fence for a home run.

Riverside Tavern’s leftfielder Jordan Lecher nearly robbed a home run in his team’s first game of the 26-team Watercade softball tournament. Instead, the ball deflected off his glove and over the fence for a home run.Staff Photo by Louie Opatz

Riverside Tavern’s Kaleb Kalkbrenner, who also plays baseball for the Litchfield Blues, winds up to make a throw across the diamond on July 12 at the Watercade softball tournament.

Riverside Tavern’s Kaleb Kalkbrenner, who also plays baseball for the Litchfield Blues, winds up to make a throw across the diamond on July 12 at the Watercade softball tournament.Staff Photo by Louie Opatz

Eric Labraaten, the first baseman for the ACC/MKC/HPH softball team from Hutchinson, follows through after a base hit on July 12 at the Watercade softball tournament.

Eric Labraaten, the first baseman for the ACC/MKC/HPH softball team from Hutchinson, follows through after a base hit on July 12 at the Watercade softball tournament.Staff Photo by Louie Opatz

Members of the Riverside Tavern softball team unwind after their first-round loss in the 2014 Watercade Softball tournament, which was sponsored by the Litchfield Fire Department for the third year.

Members of the Riverside Tavern softball team unwind after their first-round loss in the 2014 Watercade Softball tournament, which was sponsored by the Litchfield Fire Department for the third year.Staff Photo by Louie Opatz

Despite a morning rainstorm and semi-soggy conditions, the Watercade Men’s Slow Pitch Softball Tournament went off without a hitch, with 26 teams from across the area competing July 12 and July 13 at the VFW softball fields in Litchfield.

The Saturday morning rain only set the tournament back about a half hour and just required “a little more field prep work,” according to Matt Kadelbach, one of the tournament’s organizers.

“Then it dried out and the sun came out and Saturday evening was a real nice night,” Kadelbach added.

T’s 13, a national team based in Omaha, Neb., won the tournament, dropping only one game on its way to a $1,400 first-place prize. UCC/Krown/Longhorns and Budweiser/NLL/Promolink, two Twin Cities-based teams, captured second and third place, respectively.

The KR Rockets, a team composed of Litchfield-area players, took fourth place for the top local finish.

The tournament, which was sponsored by the Litchfield Fire Department for the third year, offers a mix of top-flight out-of-town teams and teams that are staples of the Thursday night softball league in town.

“We’re really, really appreciative of all the support we get from our hometown teams,” Kadelbach said. “We can’t do the tournament without the support of our hometown teams.”

KR Rockets lost the third-place game to Budweiser/NLL/Promolink, who also bounced KR Rockets from the tournament last year by beating them in the championship game.

Copyright 2014 Litchfield Independent Review/Crow River Media/Media News Group.

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Softball survives Saturday showers