Softball Is a Big Hit

CHINO HILLS—Sparkies lit up the day at the 19th annual Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Softball Tournament, where teams of IBEW Electricians took all four top finisher positions.

The tourney on Saturday, Aug. 5 featured a record 24 teams from all sectors of the Building Trades in LA and Orange Counties, along with San Bernardino and Riverside. Games started at 8 am and went through several rounds to reach the playoffs and championships.

Slide 1

Heat & Frost Insulators Local 5 with retiring business agent Eddy Pena, back row in straw hat.

Slide 2

IUPAT Glaziers Local 636.

Slide 3

IUPAT Painters Local 1036.

Slide 4

IUPAT Drywall Finishers Local 1136.

Slide 5

IUPAT Local 1247, Resilient Floor & Decorative Covering.

In the Upper Division Championship game, IBEW Local 11 A bested IBEW Local 441, the host of the tournament, by 14-8.

Slide 1

UA Local 78 Plumbers with Business Manager Jeremy Diaz, back row, second from right.

Slide 2

UA Local 78 Plumbers “Frias” team.

Slide 3

UA Local 250 Steam & Pipefitters Black team.

Slide 4

UA Local 250 Steam & Pipefitters Blue team.

Slide 5

UA Local 761 Plumbers & Fitters.

In the Lower Division Championship game, IBEW Local 440 played IBEW Local 477, with IBEW 440 pulling out a last-inning win 7-6.

Slide 1

SMART Local 105, the “Tin Knockers” A team.

Slide 2

SMART Local 105, the “Tin Knockers” B team.

Slide 3

IBEW Local 11 B team.

Slide 4

UA Local 582 Plumbers & Steamfitters with Business Manager Robert James, back row, left.

Slide 5

IBEW Local 441 Hooligans team.

John DeCleene, assistant business manager for IBEW Local 441, organizes the annual event.

Slide 1

Teamsters Joint Council 42.

Slide 2

Iron Workers Local 416.

Slide 3

Iron Workers Local 433.

Slide 4

UA Local 398 Plumbers & Fitters.

Slide 5

Laborers Local 724, Studio Utility Employees.

“Once again it was a great tournament with some heartbreaks, thrills and most of all, union solidarity,” DeCleene said.

The tourney took place in Chino Hills at Big League Dreams, which features replicas of famous MLB parks. Families spent the day at the park with plenty of pizza, soda and kids’ games. Shady seats in the stands gave relief from heat that peaked at 97 degrees. For players, cold beer, Gatorade and water misters were available too.