Tournament Review: Boys of Summer
Flying from California to Wisconsin can be quite a bummer as you realize you are leaving the sunny beaches for the bug infested landscape known for its wonderful cheese. But then you see it………off in the distance like the scene from the movie Field of Dreams. Yeah….that’s it…one of the greatest places to play softball in North America. Circle Tap. The field sets in the middle of nowhere as far as I’m concerned. Nestled in the middle of corn fields and cheese factories, the Circle Tap Field represents everything that fastpitch softball is….a hidden gem.
Walking up to the field, you could feel the excitement. The Circle Tap Bar is huge. It looks like a big barn that’s been turned into a bar. From the parking lot, the bar hides the field so all you can see are the lights of the game. Inside the bar you can hear the DJ playing music and people screaming. It’s a festive atmosphere filled with fans of the game. We can’t wait to walk in.
As soon as we open the doors we’re greeted by familiar faces. It’s like a reunion every time you step foot in this place. There are people running around in the bar asking for autographs on their shirts so they can win prizes. There is one fellow dancing on the bar doing the sprinkler (I can’t remember his name), and there is a huge set of windows, almost acting like a television screen. On TV this night is Men’s Fastpitch softball. What a show.
The Boys of summer not only brings together a great set of teams, they bring a great atmosphere that reminds us why we play. The fans here are very knowledgeable. Outside the bar is where the veterans usually sit. There is a wooden deck that attaches to the bar and serves as almost a VIP section. As you walk down the steps there is limited bleacher seating on both first and third base lines. This is the only real problem with the tourney. To watch the game you need to have prime seating as the views aren’t very good from the right field lines. There is plenty of space in the outfield but it seems to distance you from the beer and food. Nobody wants that!
Although the crowd didn’t come through like they did in Monkton, the Boys of Summer definitely made up for it with a great place to be. The beer was cheap and they had a large selection of bar food to choose from. No, you’re not gonna find any Weight Watchers entrees here but you will find a good time. In all reality, you don’t have to leave the park until it’s time to sleep. You can dance, and watch softball at the same time. What else do you need? I give it a thumbs up.