Barbara Lawlor, Gilpin County.

The Blue Sox had a good go at top notch, but the A-CERs, who won the league last year, corralled it again. Now these two teams will have a chance to duke it out at the Sondra Putnam Memorial Tournament this weekend.

Although there were fewer teams this year, players mixed and matched and competition was stiff, with many high-scoring games.

On July 10, the Gilbillies beat the Blue Sox, 17-10, which dropped the Blues a notch from tying for first place and gave the Gillbillies a 6-6 record. Eldora, playing with its usual good cheer and sportsmanship, logged in a 1-11 record.

On Tuesday, July 17, The A-CERs, still in first place, 10-4, lost their second game to the Gillbillies, which clumped up the top three teams. On Thursday, Eldora was scorched by both the Gillbillies and the Blue Sox.

The final standings:

1. A-CERS, 10-4

2. Blue Sox, 9-5

3. Gillbillies, 8-6

4. Eldora, 1-13

Hillary Kysar, of the Gillbillies, says they started out slowly, but came on strong at the end and are prepared to have a powerful showing at the tournament this weekend.

The double elimination tournament will be on Saturday, 7/28.

Who will get to take the trophy home? The tournament is spectator friendly and exemplifies the very essence of summer softball in Gilpin County.

(Originally published in the July 26, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)