Carol Stream hosts Snowball Softball Tournament

The chance of a few flurries this weekend probably won't add up to snowballs in Carol Stream, but the forecast says there's a good chance of softball.

The annual Adult Men's Snowball 12-inch Softball Tournament will pit teams from throughout the Chicago area against each other on Saturday, Feb. 25, at McCaslin Park, provided weather conditions cooperate.

"If it rains, we cancel. We don't want to damage our outfield," said Anthony Kenny, the district's adult sports manager.

Sunshine and balmy temperatures are no problem. And neither is the presence of snow, Kenny said. The first year of the tournament, the ground disappeared under 12 inches of snow.

"It was an actual snowball tournament, which was fun," he said. "We snowplowed it."

Another year, he said, extreme cold resulted in cancellation. During another season, there was too much snow to plow, so the event was deep-sixed.

Kenny said park district officials will monitor the weather and will notify teams should cancellation be necessary. If nature doesn't interfere in any way, he said, the competition will go on, making it the third Snowball Tournament in Carol Stream.

"If we get nice weather, we'll probably get a good turnout, about eight teams," he said.

"In past years, base paths were plowed of snow. With this year's unusually warm winter weather, the plows won't be necessary and the warmth may attract more than the six to eight local teams that love the snow challenge," said Carolyn Mondlock, the district's marketing communications coordinator.

Registration is $225 per team. There is no qualifying criteria, Kenny said, except that players must be at least 16 years old. Carol Stream residency is not required.

"If you can get 10 friends together, you can go out on the field," he said. "The season doesn't technically start until March. Leagues start in April."

Teams with names like Chi City Assassins, HRO Softball, The Others and Bad Boys will compete in a pool play that guarantees each team three games. Then top teams will square off in a single-elimination round. Mondlock said the top team will receive a cash prize.

Kenny said adult men's softball is a time-honored tradition in Carol Stream and has long been a favorite park district activity.

"We've been having adult softball leagues forever," he said.

If you go

What: Snowball 12-inch Softball Tournament

When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25

Where: 27W650 North Ave., West Chicago

Cost: $225 per team

Info: (630) 784-6100 or csparks.org