The 54th annual Over The Line World Championships will fill Fiesta Island beginning Saturday July 14 and continue July 15, 21 and 22.
The goal of all the action on the field is to determine who is the best at the challenging, homegrown sand-softball sport. Along the way, 50,000 to 60,000 adult spectators will also bask in the sun and play.
The colorful annual beach party and OTL tournament is hosted by the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club (OMBAC).
Founding members of the club invented the game out of youthful competitiveness. Most of the members matured, but the spirit of the gamesters has not ” it’s a buffet of fun. Many guests come to support the athletes’ efforts while most visit the games to witness the spectacle of sights and sounds that can only be found at this event.
Among the 1,200 teams, most have elaborate names that range from PG-rated to darn clever to unprintable. Team names are continuously announced over the loudspeakers, directing the team members to an available court. The adult humor laced through the names results in a uniquely fun atmosphere, which is not recommended for children.
Other OTL tournament do’s and don’ts include the four “Bs” safety tips: don’t bring babies, bowsers, bottles or bikes into the playing area. Do bring a beach chair or towel and suntan lotion and a relaxed attitude.
The 48 OTL courts are in constant use with the 3,600 athletes leaping, diving and slugging the special orange softballs, while OMBAC provides refreshments and cherished souvenirs at five locations surrounding the fields.
Most visitors arrive aboard the free shuttles from Bonita Cove, which is located east of the roller coaster in Belmont Park, and from the Linda Vista trolley station. Parking is limited on the island and is usually full and closed to cars by 10 a.m. on the first three days of the tournament.
Bicycles are also a popular means of arrival and can be secured to fencing at the tournament entrance.
At the uniquely San Diego beach party, OMBAC’s Ms. Emerson 2006, Trish Flowers, as well as other extraordinary former Ms. Emersons will be available to autograph a program, shirt or hat.
Around midday on the second Saturday, a new beauty queen spokeswoman will be selected.
OMBAC members use the huge gathering as their primary fundraiser in order to support their agenda of civic activities throughout the year, according to OMBAC media representative Sonny Peterson.
Funds raised from the sales support local youth organizations such as the Boy Scouts, Little League and soccer teams, Children’s Hospital and breast cancer research. Student athlete college scholarships and several events for the physically disabled are also sponsored throughout the year by the various OMBAC committees.
Part of the reason for the beach sport’s popularity is its simplicity. Competition features three-person teams and minimal equipment.
Teammates toss or “pitch” to each other from the point of a pencil-shaped field 55 feet wide. The game of place-hitting the ball into fair territory over a line 55 feet away has resulted in a unique golf-like batting technique that allows the very skilled batter to mask which direction the hit is aimed.
Male players do not use gloves, adding to the difficulty of a solid defense.
Scoring occurs after a third “hit” falls into the court, over the line. No one runs any bases. A lot of runs can be scored plus the opportunity to make dramatic dives in the sand has made the game very popular to watch and challenging while simple to play.
There are 10 divisions of competition: men’s Open, Century, Canardly, Cannever, Cadaver and Camummy. The women’s divisions include Open, Century, Canalways and Caneasy.
More information is available at www.OMBAC.org.