Sports Spotlight

Softball

The local softball teams, run through the Twin Cities Goodtime Softball league, have had a busy July, and are winding down another summer season. Earlier this month, the league celebrated another successful season with the TCGSL All-Star Game and picnic on July 10th, and, this past weekend the league held their annual Miss TCGSL Pageant / talent show at Solera in downtown Minneapolis. The contest is a league fundraiser featuring many players and teams busting out drag performances, and is always a crazy fun time.

The 2011 Gay Softball World Series is coming up in Chicago, and several local teams competed for a chance to earn a spot in that series. The Edge and the Mess softball teams fought their way through to victory in the C-Division playoffs, and will be competing in the games August 29th through September 3rd. They will be joining three other local teams who will be competing, the Frostbite, Sabres, and Titans.

Finally, to round out July, and kick off August, you’ll want to mark your calendars for upcoming softball events this Sunday, July 31st and next weekend, August 6th and 7th. The Slammers local softball team will be holding a fundraiser, described as “Slammers Embrace the Diva Tea Dance”. Join them at the Saloon at 9th and Hennepin in downtown Minneapolis for beer bust, the famous ‘slammer shots’, games, and prizes from 6pm to 9pm. Closing out the summer softball season, the teams will be kicking it into high gear for the league playoffs next weekend. The games start at 9am at Northeast Park in Minneapolis. All of the local teams will celebrate a hard-fought season with fun and camaraderie at their end of year banquet on August 7th at the Nicollet Island Pavilion.
Volleyball

Along with MN Rallies, GLASS organizes volleyball teams who will be hosting the NAGVA-sanctioned MN Autumn Classic Volleyball Tournament. Held at the Bloomington Kennedy Activity Center, the tournament will feature teams both locally, and from throughout the United States. Early registration is open through the end of July for any interested teams. The tournament will take place September 17th & 18th.

GLASS has opportunities available for volleyball on various nights of the week for those with varying skill levels. Monday night is for intermediate players, at the Midtown YWCA. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights are reserved for beginners, advanced, and intermediate players. You can find those matches being played at the Sabathani Community Center. Check out www.glassports.org for more info on Tennis and Volleyball.

Tennis

The GLASS Tennis group, MN Rallies, held their annual North Country Classic tournament June 3rd-5th. In their18th year, the group had thirty-seven players who turned out from all over the US, and here at home. Thanks to donations from local businesses and the United States Tennis Association (USTA), GLASS was able to raise $700 for their PFund charity raffle.

USTA and MN Rallies provided tennis equipment and coached some new tennis players during Pridefest. Staffed by USTA and MN Rallies volunteers, the group spread the word out about different tennis programs available around the Twin Cities.