Thousands of athletes come out to Fiesta Island every year to try their hand at over the line, our unique homegrown sand softball game.
Every year in the last hours of the four-day competition, it is another reunion among the best of the best. The same people keep rising to the top.
The 54th annual OMBAC Over The Line World Championships were decided July 22.
The 2007 Women’s Open final was just such a match-up of previous champions. This year’s winners, team Ryno Lady’s Athletic Club was made up of multi-champion Kim Romano with Mary Ann Casillas, a 51-year-old veteran and five-time champion, and her daughter Taryin ” the third base player for the SDSU Aztecs.
A double final was necessary in the double-elimination tournament since Beachcomber entered the finals undefeated.
Ryno defeated last year’s champions Beachcomber made up of multi-champions Nina Detrow and Lisa McGowan plus newcomer Jenny Mays.
In 2006 Ryno finished third. Last year’s second place team Kiss My Flash came in third in 2007 ” it’s a carousel in competitive OTL at the top. Flash was made up of multi-champions Stephanie Olow, Tess Franklin and 11-time champion Camille Medina.
Flash Sportswear, powered by Scott Bello, Kevin Kries and Tony Maturani, dominated the Men’s Open final. It was their third championship since 2003.
Flash defeated Stella Artuis made up of Jeff Floodberg, Dave Miller and Eric Miller in a re-match of the 2005 Open championship.
Men’s Open third place trophy went to last year’s runner-up the Mudhens including veteran players Rob Christian, Steve Tarentino and Tom Dobyns.
The Men’s Century division was won by Sunkist who defeated Berkshire followed by Beach Ballet in third. Century refers to the player’s ages, which must add up to more than 100 while each player must be over 30 years of age.
Winchester Falconry defeated the Blockheads to win the Men’s Canardly 40+ division. Ryno Snatch/Batch finished in third.
In the Men’s Cannever 50+ division were repeat champs Silver Snakes over the Pennant followed in third by Quality Power.
The Men’s Cadaver set of 60+ athletes was topped by, Team Longhorn who out-battled Slippery When Wet. Sandballer Access Garage Door claimed third place.
Record-book members Koala Art defeated the Rusty Zippers for the title in the new Men’s Cammummy 70+ division.
The Women’s Century division champs from Clairemont Surf Shop Wahines were repeat winners from 2004, 2005 and last year’s third place finalist. The perennial contenders include Julie Dossett, Janet Braly and Carolyn Fisher.
On Saturday, July 21, Ms. Emerson 2006 Trish Flowers turned over her crown to Mary Crewzeski who was selected from a field of bikini-clad women anxious to participate in the community service programs and partying carried on throughout the year by OMBAC as their beauty-queen spokesperson.
The 450-member Old Mission Beach Athletic Club (OMBAC) again hosted the OTL championships as their primary fund-raiser for numerous civic projects including youth sports, scholarships, rugby, cancer research and Children’s Hospital.
For more information visit www.OMBAC.org.