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The Eau Claire Classic is not just another fastpitch softball tournament.
Matter of fact, it's the longest one going in the nation.
Stu Taylor, tournament director for more than a decade, said he has put the question up to many individuals in the sport and has been told "nobody comes close."
This weekend marks the 43rd annual in an event that began in 1967 and has come off without interruption.
Such national and world championship teams to appear here have been Madison Farm, Decatur (Ill.) Pride, St. Paul All-American, Wisconsin County Materials, Green Bay All-Car, Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Teleconnect, Broken Bow (Neb.) Travelers, Tampa (Fla.) Smokers, Aurora (Ill.) Sealmasters and Home-Savings.
In between, Gelein Field has been the site of International Softball Congress World Tournaments in 2001 and 2005.
That's quite a history.
The first tournament was organized by Peters Meats sponsor Bill Pire and recreation director Dick Wilsman to be held at sparkling new Gelein Field in 1967.
A field of 16 national powers were here and Peters defeated St. Paul Whitaker Buick, 1-0, in the championship game.
In following years the tournament grew and teams had to be turned away. The 1974 tournament field numbered 26 and it stayed in that neighborhood through the years.
Players who came here loved the field in the unique setting, the loud support from the fans and the overall atmosphere.
It became one of the most popular tournaments in the nation but in later years, the sport began a decline - locally and nationally.
Still, as late as 2000, the tournament attracted 20 teams from New York, Indiana, Illinois, North Dakota, Minnesota and Canada.
Entries dropped to 16 in the mid-2000s and fell to a low of 11 teams in 2007. The number was 13 last year.
In lining up this year's tournament, Taylor saw an alarming decline.
Minn-Dak of Fargo, N.D., a city represented in the first tournament and most every year since - folded. Denmark Dukes - absent. Green Bay Townline - folded.
No city teams. The Rice Lake Orangemen are absent. Only two entries are from Minnesota.
It leaves a new low of just eight teams - five in Division I and three in Division II. The total number of games is 18.
There is not only a dip in teams but support that once packed the park has fallen off sharply in recent years.
Another gloomy sign is the cancelation of three major tournaments on the ISC slate, and scheduled tournaments have seen the late withdrawal of expected entries.
"The economy the way it is does not leave a lot of money for travel," said Madison Farm owner/manager Rod Peterson, a man who's input has helped keep the sport alive in recent years. "It's fading faster than I thought it would."
Does this put the handwriting on the wall for Eau Claire Classic?
"This is a little different," Taylor said. "But we'll try to have a tournament as long as we get enough teams."
If it wasn't for the loyalty of Peterson and his Farm Tavern team, the tournament might already be in the junkyard. He's been involved in every Classic - as a player and sponsor.
And his presence again this year along with Iowa teams Midwest Stampede, the defending champion, and Albaugh lends credence to the tournament. They stand among the top eight teams in the current ISC ratings. Farm is third behind defending World champion Kitchener, Ont., Rivershark Twins and Broken Bow-Patsy's.
Despite a lack of numbers and quality teams, it appears another exciting tournament is on tap trying to save a city and national softball tradition.
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