Innisfail baseball fans had plenty to cheer about during the finals of the second annual Dallas Yarbrough Memorial Tournament this weekend.
Four local teams played in tournament final games on Sunday: the Innisfail Indians alumni lost 9-5 in the 鈥淏鈥� division baseball final to the Beiseker Canadians after surrendering seven runs in the 7th inning; Red Deer鈥檚 Spare Change beat Smashbox 24-3 in the 鈥淏鈥� division slo-pitch final; and the Wolfpack rode two five-run innings to a 13-5 win over the Hellrazors in an all-Innisfail affair in the 鈥淎鈥� division slo-pitch final. Calgary鈥檚 Dust Devils, who lost to the Calgary Diamondbacks in last year鈥檚 鈥淎鈥� division baseball final, took the title this year with a 9-8 win over the Provost Combine Pilots.
The tournament is named after former Innisfail Indians pitcher Dallas Yarbrough, who passed away following a car accident in the mid-2000s. A total of 14 slo-pitch teams and six baseball teams took part, Desmond Bouteiller, one of the tournament鈥檚 organizers, said.
Bouteiller said organizers were a little concerned about the cold, wet weather that was in the area for the start of the weekend, but conditions quickly improved.
鈥淓verything came together as soon as the sun came out,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was a great turnout for the whole thing.鈥�
This year鈥檚 tournament featured two teams with strong connections to Dallas. Many of the Indians alumni had played alongside Yarbrough, and the Living Legends slo-pitch team featured members of Dallas鈥� family, as well as friends and former teammates.
Bouteiller said reuniting the Indians alumni for the first time in years was an incredible experience.
鈥淭heir first game Saturday was probably the coldest game all weekend, and I didn鈥檛 see a player without a big smile on their face the whole time,鈥� he said.
鈥淭hey played well,鈥� Bouteiller鈥檚 brother and fellow organizer, Steven, added. 鈥淚 think they were happy with what they had.鈥�
Steven also thanked the umpiring duo of Paul Bergeron and Dennis Dancey for calling every baseball game.
Desmond said a portion of the proceeds from the tournament would go towards sending two minor ball players to the Warcott baseball camp this winter. A third player will also attend the camp thanks to the Hellrazors, who donated all their winnings from the tournament.
Dallas鈥� younger brother, Dale, said having the town鈥檚 support behind the family was priceless. Playing in the tournament meant the family enjoyed a different experience from last year鈥檚 inaugural tournament, he added.
鈥淭o have everybody here that had an influence with Dallas makes it better,鈥� Dale said. 鈥淚 think Dallas would be very pleased with what鈥檚 going on and how we are. We鈥檙e all having fun. It鈥檚 not about winning 鈥� it鈥檚 about being together.鈥�
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Having the Indians alumni team in the tournament was huge, Bouteiller said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long time since they鈥檝e been together,鈥� he explained. 鈥淲e learned a lot from last year and we hope to get better next year and every other year.鈥�
Said it wouldn鈥檛 be a tournament without playing Beiseker.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always been a huge rivalry.鈥�
鈥淲e played in it last year and we knew it was too much,鈥� he said. 鈥淕uys鈥� heads weren鈥檛 actually into playing ball. It was better this way.鈥�
DREW OR DALE
鈥淭his town just gave us everything that we could ever be. It鈥檚 made us who we are.鈥�
鈥淭o have the town behind us is priceless.鈥�
Said this experience felt different.
鈥淲e had more fun. Everybody鈥檚 here 鈥� more family. There鈥檚 a totally different vibe.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about us. It鈥檚 about being here as family, and having good times.鈥�
The Living Legends featured members of the Yarbrough family, former teammates, and players from Calgary, Wetaskawin.鈥�
Said there were some plays he felt his late brother had some influence in.
鈥淲e had one player run into the fence and he didn鈥檛 stop,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n his mind, he heard Dallas say, 鈥楪o, go, go!鈥欌��
Dale said his older brother
鈥淗e鈥檇 be happy,鈥� Yarbrough said, his voice choked with emotion. 鈥淗e鈥檇 be cheering us on.鈥�
