Jesse Ales Memorial Men's Softball Tournament champions, back row, from left, Clemente Yanez, Jereme Bazor, Derek Hendry, Nathan Salo, with Ozzi, and Mike Bradley. Front row, Frank Fales, Gabe Poehlmann, Jim Bazor, Ryan Jones and Brandon Costa. James Humecky photo.

Championship

Mendosas-Skyline (Fort Bragg) 5 Tri County 4

All Tournament

Mike Bradley .667
Brandon Costa .583
Gabe Poehlmann .533

Skyline-Mendosas scrambles for Ales tournament championship.

A little fog over the weekend didn't dampen the energy of the 10 teams that showed up to play in the eighth annual Jesse Ales Memorial Mens' Softball Tournament.

Patton Field at Fort Bragg High School and Pavioni Field at Dana Gray Elementary hosted two days of spirited play in the double elimination tournament. The men were separated from the boys on Saturday with several of the games finishing early due to the 10 run rule. Only the best went on to play on Sunday.

Fans and families crowded the fences and baselines to get a view of the action. It was a real hometown family day.

It all came down to the Tri-County team and the Skyline Tree Service team. Tri-County is an unsponsored team made up of local players and players from inland as far as Lake County. The team has been to the Ales tournament every year since its inception, taking three first places and three second places. This year they can notch another second place on their record.

The Skyline Tree Service team is sponsored by a company from Redding but is made up mostly of local guys.

Tri-County had lost to Skyline earlier in the day, 11-10, but made their way back into the championship bracket by winning their next two games, beating Anderson Law, from Lake County, in the second game.

Skyline dominated the field from the outset, quickly gaining a five-point lead. It looked like there might be a third playoff game though when the Tri-County team came back by the fifth inning, closing the score to one, 5-4.

With a lot of cheering and jeering from the sidelines, the Skyline players renewed their commitment, holding off Tri-County in the seventh to bring the first place trophy home. Besides a great looking trophy the winners also received t-shirts provided by the tournament organizer, the Mendocino Coast Park and Recreation District.

The FBHS wrestlers kept everyone fed at the snack shack, serving up hamburgers, hotdogs and brauts.

Cindi Whitlock, who has been helping organize the tournament for several years said, "This year the tournament went extremely smooth with very few hitches. All the players and teams were there to play ball and have a good time

Champions

Skyline Tree Service

All Stars from Skyline

Mike Bradley .667
Brandon Costa .583
Gabe Poehlmann .533

Second place
Tri-County Bandits

All Stars from Tri-County

Mike Keesee .680
Adam Bruch .667
Chad Wlodarzyk .667

Tournament MVP
Jim Bazor of Skyline .727

Sportsmanship Team Award
T and S Logging(Ukiah)