The Finishers started it.

The Langley softball team had so much fun at the Armstrong portion of the Funtastic Slo-Pitch tournament they brought more Langley teams like Git R Dun and Playing The Field with them.

So you can understand why longtime Finisher Sam Wolters was upset to hear that, for the first time in 29 years, there will be no games in Armstrong this long weekend due to a lack of registered teams.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e come the last 12 years,害羞草研究所� said Wolters, whose team included her husband, four kids, their spouses and other friends. 害羞草研究所淲e did Vernon the first year but we are a family team and we heard great things about Armstrong. We loved the fact that you parked your camper (at the IPE grounds) and walked everywhere.

害羞草研究所淵ou walked to your game; you walked to Askew害羞草研究所檚. You walked to the best bakery inside Askew害羞草研究所檚 (Country Bakery) where we bought them out of cinnamon bread every day.害羞草研究所�

The Finishers even had a wedding in Armstrong during Funtastic.

害羞草研究所淭hat was Dave and Deb, a couple that came with us,害羞草研究所� said Wolters. 害羞草研究所淚t was their choice. They got married on Diamond 1. The (Armstrong Spallumcheen) chamber was fantastic. Patti (Noonan), Carol (Hill-Lonergan), Mayor Chris (Pieper), Fran (Stecyk, from local organizing committee), everybody was great to us.害羞草研究所�

As of March, Armstrong Funtastic organizers had eight teams committed, and the deadline for teams to pay and register has generally been April 1.

Fran Stecyk, a 10-year Armstrong committee member, said numbers have been diminishing for a number of years.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e had 44 teams, that was our largest, but the maximum we could have camping was 32,害羞草研究所� said Stecyk, who played in the tournament as well. 害羞草研究所淐amping numbers kept dropping and dropping, and we just know ballplayers, in general, have aged out and the younger generation hasn害羞草研究所檛 stepped in to replenish the retiring ballplayers.害羞草研究所�

Without the registrations, said Stecyk, the tournament couldn害羞草研究所檛 proceed in Armstrong.

害羞草研究所淲e can害羞草研究所檛 run a tournament with eight teams,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not fair to the food vendors or the organizers of the beer garden. We害羞草研究所檇 be setting them up for a (financial) loss.害羞草研究所�

Local teams enjoyed the chance to play the out-of-town squads over the Canada Day weekend, either at the two diamonds at the IPE grounds, or the fields at Len Wood Middle School.

Linet Keir, a longtime member of Armstrong害羞草研究所檚 S&P Strongarms, first got onto a team through daycare parents 15 years ago, and never missed a tournament.

害羞草研究所淚t absolutely sucks,害羞草研究所� said Keir of the Armstrong cancellation. 害羞草研究所淚t was something I looked forward to every year. It was great. The teams kept coming back, everybody knew everybody, and it was fun, good friendly rivalries.

害羞草研究所淭he whole fairgrounds were a big ring with a game played right in the middle.害羞草研究所�

Funtastic will carry on this year in Vernon, with 200+ teams, and in Enderby, with 32 squads. Keir will go to Enderby to watch some games.

Wolters and family are still coming to Armstrong. Her oldest son lives there with his wife, and another child is moving this holiday weekend to Vernon.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檒l still participate in the Canada Day activities in Armstrong,害羞草研究所� said Wolters.

Asked if perhaps there could just be a one-year hiatus from the tournament, Stecyk said: 害羞草研究所渢hat would be nice.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淏ut we need the commitment,害羞草研究所� she said.

Through its 28-year involvement, Armstrong Funtastic has raised and donated money to many local charitable organizations.

Funtastic games in Vernon and Enderby start tonight, and carry on through the weekend, finishing on Monday.

There will be a Celebrity Softball Game Saturday at 2:45 p.m. at DND 5 in Vernon. Scheduled to take part are Vernon Vipers head coach Mark Ferner; former NHL stars Dean McAmmond and Sandy Moger; ultramarathon sensation Shanda Hill; former Salmon Arm Silverbacks general manager Troy Mick; seven-time B.C. men害羞草研究所檚 curling champion Jim Cotter and Morning Star sports editor Kevin Mitchell.

Proceeds from the game go toward programs at North Okanagan Youth and Family Services Society.

On Sunday, the Funtastic Home Run Derby will take place at noon, also at DND 5. Proceeds from that event go toward KidSport Vernon.