Corky’s 40th Early Bird Softball Tournament
It was a beautiful weekend for outdoor activities. Everywhere you looked, there were people outside just soaking up the sun and the nice warm temps, along with several of my neighbors mowing for the first time this season. It was also the first weekend in May, and in Owatonna, that means, it's Corky's Early Bird Softball Tournament time!
Softball teams from across the United States, as well as some from our neighbors to the North, converge on Owatonna to take part in the tournament. As long as I have lived in Owatonna, which is over 20 years now, I can only recall one weekend where the tournament had to be canceled. Anyone else remember May of 2013? Mother Nature surprised us with over a foot of snow, hard to play softball when you can't even get to the diamonds.
According to the information on the Facebook page for Corky's, they were expecting 176 teams to come and play this past weekend, that's a lot of softball players. Then add the vendors, supporters, families, and the spectators, it's a pretty big deal. Loren Dietz has been the Tournament Director for the past 10 years, and he was awarded a plaque from the Owatonna Chamber of Commerce and a personalized softball bat from Monsta Athletics, that was very nice.
The Devon Worley Band took to the stage after the presentations, to entertain the crowds with a free concert. The best part of the concert; there was this little guy, must have been about 2, who was dancing up a storm, smiling and laughing, and copying the group of older children with their dance moves. They also had a reunion of the retired players from the past 40 years.