LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Fans cheered on three softball teams in Fort Simpson as the sun set on the longest day of the year.

The Midnight Sun Baseball Challenge celebrated its second year in the village on June 21. Thirty-five softball enthusiasts participated in the event that started at 10 p.m.

Team Sub Arctic's Carl Carpentier swings at the ball during the second annual Midnight Sun Baseball Challenge in Fort Simpson - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Each team played two games in the round robin. Sub Arctic went undefeated beating the Village People 9-6 and Rowe's Construction 9-0. The Village People also won against Rowe's 5-4 in a game that ended when Kenny Harrison hit the ball out of the park.

The Village People and Sub Arctic met on the field again in the finals.

With the light fading fast, it was hard for the players to see the ball in the outfield and only a handful of dedicated, mosquito-bitten fans were left to see the Sub Arctic win the 17-10 at 1:39 a.m. on Monday morning.

During the first inning Kenny Harrison brought two home for the Village People while Matt Sabourin did the same for the Sub Arctic. With two other runs scored Sub Arctic was up 4-2 by the top of the second. In the bottom of the second the Sub Arctic executed a rare triple play.

In the third inning, Chris Misevicius of Sub Arctic brought two home in a two-run single. The team ended their time at bat on a bases-loaded double play.

In the bottom on the third the Village People's Gordon Thompson added one run in a single followed by a run by Harrison after a big hit into the outfield. Lionel Nadia batted Thompson home to the cheers of the crowd. The inning ended when Steven Thompson hit a pop fly caught by Carl Carpentier.

In the fourth inning, smart base running by Dave Magarey and poor fielding by the Village People allowed Sub Arctic take another five runs, padding the score to 11-7.

Chris Misevicius led off the fifth inning with a stand-up triple to centre field for Sub Arctic. He went on to add two more runs during his second triple of the inning.

The team took a total of six runs in the fifth, and although the Village People took three they were unable to even up the score, which finished at 17-10.

Sub Arctic's win was "a total team effort," said Carpentier.

"Everyone was working good," he said.

The team had strong defense both in the infield and outfield, Carpentier said. Sub Arctic also benefited from Misevicius' performance. He caught a lot of balls and made a lot of hits, said Carpentier.

Other members of the Sub Arctic included Deborah Lindenberger, Shane Thompson, Tina DeCouto, Mary Rose Denethlon, Dawn Bell, Matt Sabourin and Will Hardisty.

George Denethlon was named the most valuable player for the Village People.

The tournament was a success, said Dave Magarey, who helped organize.

"Everyone competed with a really good spirit," he said.

There was a high turnout for the teams and the crowd was supportive, said Magarey.

"I think everyone had a good time," he said.