Gilbert Days Celebration Ends with Annual Softball Tournament

The town of Gilbert held their 19^th annual Gilbert Days Softball Tournament over Saturday and Sunday, November 22 and 23.

Friends and families enjoyed the sun and seasonally nice weather at three different Gilbert area parks, as they came out to support their teams during the tournament.

Around 130 teams in seven different divisions, both co-ed and all male/ all female, battled it out in double elimination over the weekend to take home the title of champion and their part of a $12,000 prize package to be split up around the team. One male player and one female player also were chosen for the Sportsmanship winner and given a brand new baseball bat for a prize.

Players and teams came from all around the Valley to participate in the tournament. Tony Taranjo’s team, the Phx Dubz, came all the way from Phoenix to play in the tournament. Taranjo and the Dubz have played many tournaments around Phoenix but this was their first visit to the Gilbert Days tournament.

“We play in Phoenix most of the time, but it’s a good time. Families come out and kids come out and play and everybody has a good time,” said Taranjo.

Taranjo enjoyed the Gilbert Days tournament, and plans bring the Dubz back to Gilbert next year for the tournament.

“More than likely [we will play next year]. It was the first year, it was a good time a good tournament,” said Taranjo.

Not every player was new to the tournament this year. Liza Gonzales from the Chandler area has been playing softball for around 20 years. This was her 10^th year playing in the Gilbert Days Tournament.

Gonzales has seen a large increase in the amount of participants in the tournament since she has been playing in it, and knows this increases the money being brought into the Gilbert community.

“It actually brings in a lot of money to this community and the area here. I was told earlier that this was the biggest turnout, that there was 130 teams in the Gilbert Days,” said Gonzales.

The softball tournament and a dance held on Saturday night closed out the November month-long Gilbert Days celebration. Gilbert Days pays tribute to the town of Gilbert, its western heritage, and even the paving of the main street Gilbert Road.

Other Gilbert Days events held during the month included a number of rodeo events, a 5K marathon, and carnival.

By Heidi McLarty
Guest Contributor from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism

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