INUVIK - With promise of warmer days around the corner, the Inuvik Slo Pitch Association has started getting organized for the summer season.

Alberta Softball coach Jackie Shure gets ready to release a windmail pitch to NWT Softball's Ted Schabell at the NWT Summer Games demonstrationin 2005. Inuvik Slo Pitch Association has started getting organized for the summer season. - NNSL file photo

This year there is a larger executive and eight teams already confirmed. Matt Armstrong, president of the association, hopes this year will have even more teams and players, both new and old.

"It's a fantastic way to meet people and slo-pitch is supposed to be fun," Armstrong said. "Some teams are competitive and some teams have players who have never played before."

For new players to slo-pitch, it has a few different rules from regular baseball, designed to make it fun and fair for people skilled and less-than skilled. Each team must have at least three women on the field at all times, and no more than three men can bat in a row.

Inuvik teams play seven innings and each team has 10 players on the field at a time – the traditional nine plus a rover, who helps cover the outfield. Pitches need to follow an arc between six and 12 feet high and strikes must hit a mat behind home plate to count.

Plans for the 2011 season include a men's and women's tournament held the weekend of June 17, 18, 19; a midnight sun, co-ed tournament held the August long weekend from July 29 to Aug. 1; and even restarting a mini-fastball league with a few teams and a tournament for Canada Day.

In addition to regular season games held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays, the league will hold playoffs in August, with the winning team getting bragging rights and some money to purchase championship jackets.

New for this year, the association is considering holding a banquet at the end of the season to celebrate all players and volunteers who helped out.

The season is expected to start on June 5, with representatives from every team participating in a field cleanup on June 4.

"It's kind of a surprise when the snow melts as to what condition the field is in," Armstrong said. "We'll have to pick up garbage, line (the field), check the bases and make sure there are no hazards in the field, like divots."

Team registration will be on May 31 at the Inuvik Centennial Library from 7 to 9 p.m.

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