Ready for some softball?

Corky’s Early Bird Softball Classic, which is already the largest tournament in Minnesota, keeps bigger and bigger, and this year is no different.
This year a women's bracket is being added to this weekend's festivities, which kicks off this Thursday, July 29, and lasts through Sunday, Aug. 1, across Owatonna, Faribault and Waseca.
Director Loren Dietz said that in addition to the 16-team women’s division, they’ve brought back the co-ed division and the men’s over-40 division.
With about 200 teams participating in the 41st annual tournament, it’s easy to forget that the tournament, which is named after its founder Corky Ebeling, had humble beginnings.
“Corky’s started with a 16-team tournament mainly just for fun and as it grew, we generated more and more money. We continued to choose softball because it’s such a tight-knit community of players and fans that like to travel around the country and donate to charitable causes,” he said.
Dietz noted that teams from 14 different states will participate in the tournament. Most teams come from the Midwest, but this year’s tournament will also feature teams from Texas, California and Wyoming.
“It’s a great chance for players to get to see players and teams from all around the country, including some of the best softball teams in the world,” he said.
Whether they come from near or far, he mentioned that everyone will savor the opportunity to play softball again.
“People are excited to just be playing again without restrictions,” he said.
On top of providing the opportunity to play softball again and face some of the best teams in the country, Dietz explained that the tournament also serves as a reunion for softball players, fans and umpires.
“Corky’s Early Bird has been a tradition for so long that it brings family and friends back to the Owatonna area to celebrate past friendships and the game of softball,” he said.
While players, fans and umpires enjoy reuniting and playing softball, there’s also an economic and fundraising side to the tournament.
Dietz said Corky’s Early Bird Softball Tournament Inc., which is a non-profit organization with a board of directors who put in over 600 hours a year to put on the event, generates close to one-half million dollars for southern Minnesota businesses and generates $50,000 for a different charity each year. This year the
beneficiary is We All Play, an inclusive Miracle Playground for special needs kids.
He added that Corky’s Early Bird Softball Classic also provides over $5,000 total to Owatonna and Faribault youth scholarship funds, which helps underprivileged kids participate in youth sports.
“It brings me tremendous pride that we can generate that much money for local charities,” he said. “That’s what keeps me going and keeps me motivated to continue running the Corky’s Early Bird Softball Classic.”
Dietz is also proud and grateful for all the volunteers and sponsors who make the tournament possible.
In case some Steele County community members haven’t been to a Corky’s Early Bird Softball Classic game before, he is providing an open invitation for everyone to come out and experience it.
“We’ll have full concessions, a full bar and some of the best softball games in the nation,” he said. “We really would love to see you come out and enjoy the fun.”