11 Teams to compete in 41st Rice Lake Aquafest
Invitational Men’s Fastpitch Tournament
RICE LAKE, Wis. – Six teams from Wisconsin, four from Minnesota, and one from North Dakota make up the roster of teams for the 41st Rice Lake Invitational Men’s Fastpitch Tournament to be held June 7-9, once again as part of the city’s Aquafest celebration.
Defending champion Tin Cup of St. Paul and 2018 runner-up Stoneyard of Madison are by passing this year’s event but 2017 champ Odin/Henniger’s of south central Minnesota is returning as probable pre-tournament favorite.
Other Minnesota entries are Len’s Automotive of St. Paul, third place finishers in 2017 and fourth a year ago as well as Pate Bonding of West St. Paul, Aquafest champions in 2002, 2003, and 2005. Newcomer St. Paul Sizzlers round out the contingent of Gopher State squads.
The Fargo North Dakota Knights are making their first Invitational tournament appearance.
Wisconsin entries include Striker’s Lanes of Baldwin, The Bar Blues of Madison, Rivals Fastpitch of Kenosha, Ffats Brewery of Whitehall, The Bar of Rice Lake, and the Rice Lake Orangemen, the only team to have played in all 40 previous events. The Orangemen, runner-up in 2017 and third place finishers a year ago and this season featuring a predominantly Argentine player roster, won their only Aquafest title in 2014.
Play begins Friday evening at Rice Lake’s Tate Park with The Bar of Rice Lake taking on Striker’s Lanes at 8:00 p.m. the only game slated for opening night. Play continues all day Saturday with opening games at 10:00 a.m. and Sunday starting at 9:00 a.m. The event concludes late Sunday afternoon.
This year’s Rice Lake Aquafest Invitational is dedicated to the memory of Steve “Otto†Williams, arguably the number one supporter of local athletic teams, who passed away unexpectedly on February 2 of this year.
