LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Even without field lights, the cheering fans had no trouble watching the action at the inaugural Midnight Sun Baseball Challenge in Fort Simpson.

Over 20 people watched 28 ball players take to the field late at night on June 21 to celebrate the longest day of the year.

Tiiu Cli connects with the ball during the inaugural Midnight Sun Baseball Challenge in Fort Simpson. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The Two-Rivers Slo-Pitch Association and the village's recreation department thought something should be done to mark the solstice, said Dawn Moses, one of the organizers and a participant.

"I was really pleased with the turnout and the fan support," she said.

The two teams that competed, Team Thompson and Team Moses, were chosen randomly by pulling the players' mitts out of a pile and were named after Shane Thompson and Dawn Moses.

The game started at 10:45 p.m. and the action was still going at the stroke of midnight.

The game was tied 5-5 in the second inning before Team Moses pulled ahead to take the lead. At the end of the fourth inning they were up 7-5.

In the fifth inning Team Thompson fought back, scoring five runs to make the score 10-7 in their favour. The team kept the lead for the rest of the game, winning 12-10.

"It was fantastic," Andrew Smith said of the event.

Smith, who was on the winning team, went 2-for-3 with a triple and a double and one run scored. He was named most valuable player for Team Thompson.

"It's just good to get out and play some ball," said Smith.

Team Thompson teammates Loren Ducharme and Shane Thompson both went 3-for-4. Each scored two runs.

Carl Carpenter was named best pitcher and Dave Magarey the fastest runner.

On Team Moses, Sherry Thomson and Maggie O'Neil both went 3-for-4. Thompson, who scored two runs, hit two singles and a double. O'Neil, who also scored two runs, was named most valuable player for the team.

Trevor Kjeldsli was named most dedicated player.

Playing in the challenge was fun, said Jennifer Thistle from Team Thompson.

"It was nice to see a lot of faces out," she said.

League nights for slo-pitch in the village are every Monday and Wednesday starting at 7 p.m. New players are still welcome to join.