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an average of $325 per team with 40 teams competing, the La Grande

Optimist Club Moonlight slow-pitch softball tournament is a proven

money-maker for the service organization.

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was one of the nearly 600 players that competed in some good

old-fashioned Americana last weekend, rising early to play softball

games at 6 a.m. and staying up during the wee-hours of the morning

to watch friends play.

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The tournament gets its name due to the fact games are played

around the clock from Friday night to Sunday afternoon. Even at 3

a.m. Saturday, for example, theres a game going on. Well, theres

probably two games going on, but the point is play never stops

until a champion is crowned Sunday.

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team from Hermiston, sponsored by the Midway Tavern, earned

second-place in the tournament that draws competition from

Washington, Idaho, Oregon and even a few teams from Montana.

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While I was playing, I couldnt help but think about why Hermiston

couldnt have something similar to this, albeit on a smaller scale

to start. I think it would be very well-received and its a great

way to fundraise for a good cause, like what the Optimist Club in

La Grande does.

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After talking with Casey Hocker, the tournament director for the

Jeremy Howard For the Love of the Game co-ed softball tournament

in Hermiston, he envisions the tournament, which raised around

$14,000 for the Jeremy Howard Scholarship Fund earlier in the

summer, an all-night affair like Moonlight.

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After attending both Moonlight tournaments in the past they have

a co-ed and a mens league tournament on consecutive weekends I

think Hermiston could put together just as good of product if some

legwork is put it.

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How I see it, theres one major hurdle that needs to be cleared in

order for an all-night softball tournament of any large size:

lights need to be installed on the south field at Theater Sports

Park, located on Harper Road behind Home Depot.

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Ive been in the softball circles here in Hermiston for a few years

now, and to put it lightly, there are players that are

less-than-thrilled with the City of Hermistons efforts to improve

the fields.

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They say since theres a team fee ($300 for competitive leagues,

$200 for recreational), plus player fees ($15 to $19), there should

be more done to help give them better facilities and repair the

existing ones by using said fees. They arent asking for money to

come out of the budget at all, just for the fees they paid to be

recycled into taking care of the fields. 

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From my perspective, there could be some minor maintenance done on

the fences and to the infield to not make it rock-hard, but in

comparison to the fields at La Grande, Hermiston is inches away

from providing a better facility. But work needs to be done, and

the Parks and Recreation Department needs to realize how much this

league means to the players that play in it.

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Lights on the second field would put Theater Sports Park over the

top. That would turn a decent facility into an outstanding one just

by creating more options and showing people theres an investment

being made. 

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Not only could the Howard Tournament thrive, but others could as

well. This would create a huge opportunity for the City of

Hermiston to showcase the complex and host tournaments throughout

the summer.

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People around here enjoy playing slow-pitch softball. I do, too. It

gives me something fun to do and stay active while being with

friends and having a good time. Thats not going to come to a stop

anytime soon. The Hermiston Parks and Recreation Department needs

to invest in that need and seize an opportunity soon.

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There will be enough support from the players that lighting up the

second field could be done at a fairly cost-effective rate. I was

told the people who set up the lights on the north field when the

complex was put in donated their time and labor to the project.

Thats how people working together can make this all work out.

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Plus, if lights are installed on the second field, the Hermiston

leagues could expand and play more games, host more events and make

more money. Its an investment that needs to be done, because from

what Ive been hearing, teams are thinking about taking their money

and going to the Irrigon softball league to play, if that league

happens. As of now, its just discussion, but the facilities are

definitely available to make one work.

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While thats really just a bunch of talk right now, I dont think

the Hermiston Parks and Recreation Department would want that to

happen. Talk precedes action, and since the league attracts players

from Umatilla, Irrigon, Stanfield and the surrounding area, having

another league so close could result in the money being split.

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Teams could play in both leagues, and that would be awesome, but I

dont think many teams would do that because of the fees involved.

Many of the teams are sponsored so the team fees and uniforms are

covered for the most part, but many of the players still shell out

the individual fees.

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What Hermiston has with its city-league softball program is a good

program, but it could be fantastic with some work. If some time is

put in to the facility and effort is made, the Parks and Recreation

Department will be handsomely rewarded for its effort. I can

guarantee it.

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Billy would love to hear from you. Write him at

bgates@hermistonherald.com.