The tournament started Friday featuring Dunkirk Fastpitch I defeating Westfield’s G & E Tents by a score of 7-5 followed by Dunkirk Fastpitch II defeating Dunkirk Lakeside Club by a score of 17-7.

Tournament co-director Tim Wdowiasz said there was a great crowd around 300-400 people Friday night, and he was also pleased with the turnout on Saturday, as well.

“So far the turnout has been pretty decent despite the 85 degree temperatures,” said Wdowiasz. “The local teams are fairing pretty well — we should see two or three playing tomorrow.”

Saturday featured plenty of close games throughout the day resulting in some very competitive games. G & E Tents and Dunkirk Fastpitch I both dropped games to Penn Line from Jersey Shore in the afternoon, leaving them in tough spots to make the single-elimination tournament on Sunday.

OBSERVER Photo by Aaron Lundmark Dunkirk Fastpitch I’s pitcher Wayne Moore winds up to deliver a pitch against the IAC Braves on Saturday at Promenschenkel Stadium in Dunkirk.

G & E Tents squeaked out a win over the IAC Braves by a score of 3-2, giving themselves the opportunity to play on Sunday.

“A lot of us look forward to this tournament every year,” mentioned Wdowiasz. “You get to play with a lot of your friends and have a good time.”

Interesting enough, these players mostly stick to fastpitch softball over any type of slowpitch or modified games.

“I stick just to fastpitch,” said Wdowiasz. “A lot of guys will play baseball — some will play both — but a lot of the guys that come here are strictly fastpitch softball players.”

The challenge every year is to see what kind of pitching shows up to the competition. To Wdowiasz, the pitching is the best part of softball.

“To me, I like watching the pitching,” stated Wdowiasz. “It’s always a challenge to try and get the best pitchers around to come play in this tournament. Heck I’m 48 years old and I’m still out there trying. I enjoy it.”

Dunkirk Fastpitch II went 1-1 on Saturday, losing to LA Guns but then defeated the Imparables 13-1 to clinch a spot in the tournament on Sunday.

Last year’s champion, Erie Bud, ran through the competition on Saturday even without their best pitcher, who according to Wdowiasz had his flight delayed.

Dunkirk Fastpitch I fell behind early in their final game against the IAC Braves after a first inning solo home run, but then rain suspended play until Sunday morning where two games will be finished at 8 a.m. before the single-elimination tournament seeding will be made.

If Dunkirk Fastpitch I wins, they’ll clinch a spot in the Sunday tourney. They can also clinch a spot if Erie Bud can top LMB Power.

Tournament Schedule

Friday

Dunkirk Fastpitch I 7, G & E Tents 5

Dunkirk Fastpitch II 17, Dunkirk Lakeside Club 7

Saturday

Imparables 10, Dunkirk Lakeside Club 0

Erie Bud 12, IAC Braves 1

Imparables 5, LMB Power 4

Penn Line 4, G & E Tents 1

LA Guns 5, Dunkirk Fastpitch II 2

G & E Tents 3, IAC Braves 2

Penn Line 12, Dunkirk Fastpitch 6

Erie Bud 10, Dunkirk Lakeside Club 0

Dunkirk Fastpitch II 13, Imparables 1

Sunday

IAC Braves 1, Dunkirk Fastpitch I 0 BOT 1, 8 a.m. restart time

Erie Bud vs. LMB Power, 8 a.m.

Seed 4 vs. Seed 5, 9 a.m., Promenschenkel Stadium

Seed 3 vs. Seed 6, 9 a.m., School No. 7

Seed 1 vs. Seed 8, 10:45 a.m., Promenschenkel Stadium

Seed 2 vs. Seed 7, 10:45 a.m., School No. 7

Look for results from Sunday’s action to be printed in Monday’s edition of The OBSERVER.