Near record temperatures and a few powerful thunderstorms were not enough to stop a determined group of young softball players at Hidden Rock Park last weekend. The girls, aged 7-9 and 12-13 were taking part in the Dixie League Tournament hosted by the Goochland Youth Athletic Association.

  Friday’s games were almost complete when a thunderstorm moved through the area and dropped a deluge of rain on the fields. Two games had to be completed on Saturday, and that play was made possible by some quick work by a grounds crew made up of association volunteers.

  “We really have to give a shout out to the grounds crew,” said Becky Roby, assistant tournament director. “They did a fantastic job getting these fields ready to play on.” One of the fields had about two inches of rain on it Saturday morning, but the noon start for the makeup innings was not delayed.

  The Goochland Darlings All-Star team took on the Amelia All-Star team in Saturday action. Teams not only battled each other, but also fought a steadily rising thermometer that resulted in stifling heat. The 7-to-9-year olds dropped a decision to undefeated Amelia.

  The Goochland Ponytail All-Stars played Powhatan in the second game.

  The tournament ran through Tuesday, with six teams are competing in the Ponytails Division and seven in the Darlings’ bracket.

  GYAA is celebrating a 30-year association with the Dixie League, and the relationship has resulted in Goochland girls playing some of the best competition in the area. Last year, both Goochland All-Star teams headed to state competition.

  This year’s competition featured teams from Amelia, Fluvanna, Powhatan (two teams), Cumberland and Buckingham.

  Tournament director Katie Martin said the high temperatures made an already busy day even more hectic. “We had to make sure everyone had enough water and ice,” she said. However to Martin it was worth all the effort to accommodate athletes who have made it to the All-Star level.

  “I think it’s a great experience for any child to be recognized as an All-Star,” Martin said. “At the end of the season, we usually have two teams from each age level and we pull from each to form the All-Stars,” she added. Twelve are chosen for post-season play.

  The tournament represents the end of the regular season for these teams, and Martin said all of the GYAA teams did well this year. “I don’t think we had one team that didn’t do well in the regular season. It was a great year.”

  She also said there’s no underestimating the preparation required to stage an event like this. “It’s almost a week long tournament so it takes a lot of planning and a lot of good dedicated volunteers which we have.”

  The event features so many teams, the volunteers are also crucial to its success. “There are so many behind the scenes things to be done that people don’t realize and we depend on the volunteers to step up and they do,” the tournament director said.

  Those volunteers include the grounds crew that cleared the water off the fields for Saturday’s competition. “They’re on the top of our list,” said Roby.

  “They were out here until 11 p.m. (Friday) night and were out again (Saturday) morning at six or seven,” Martin said. “We also need to thank Cecil Youngblood with Parks and Rec for his support,” she added.

  At press time, Amelia was the only undefeated team in the Darlings tournament, while Goochland, Buckingham and Cumberland had been eliminated.