Anaconda's Goosetown Softball Tourney a home run for softball players across the region

Shane Duncan hit the ball so hard and so far that the public address announcer still raved about it 10 hours later.

The softball soared out of Washoe Park’s picturesque Legion Field.

Duncan smacked that home run during a barnburner slow pitch softball game Saturday morning, when Duncan’s team, All The Smoke, played City Bar Butte.

The teams traded home runs, extra base hits and rocketed line drives before All The Smoke, with the last at-bat, prevailed 21-20.

The matchup occurred during the renowned Goosetown Softball Tournament, which began in Anaconda on Friday and was scheduled to end Sunday.

“We all love this tournament,” Duncan said during an interview before the game.

His teammate, who gave his name as Waggs, agreed.

“It’s 100% the environment,” he said. “Honestly, the community is pretty sweet here. Props to the community. They do a very good job.”

Many of All The Smoke’s players are based in Missoula, but others arrived from Idaho and Washington to participate.

Duncan was asked what position he plays.

“The fat old guy,” he said.

Like many adult softball players, Duncan totes a few extra pounds. But the athletic skills remain. One shortstop caught a blooper in shallow left field with a Willie Mays style, over-the-shoulder basket catch.

Some players take softball seriously. They walk around between games toting specialized backpacks bristling with $300 softball bats.

The Goosetown Softball Tournament almost struck out this year. Organizer Bill Hill finally convinced commissioners for Anaconda-Deer Lodge County that he had secured sufficient liability coverage to allow tournament participants to camp in Washoe Park.

Every person interviewed by The Montana Standard insisted camping was a key reason for their participation.

“If the camping wasn’t allowed, teams would have backed out,” Waggs said.

Tents dotted the grounds of Washoe Park. Some campers snagged primo spots along clear and rushing Warm Springs Creek.

Jerry Cole and Cruz Halverson, both of Helena, camped near the park’s tennis courts. Cole plays for the Sand Sharks and Halverson for the Regulators.

Both men have participated for years in the Goosetown Softball Tournament.

“If you count coming here with my dad, I’ve been coming since I was 3,” Halverson said.

He said his father, Chris Halverson, would be a teammate this year.

Carolyn McLean and Nicole Ingram, both from Kalispell, were playing on a co-ed team and a women’s team.

“We were excited to see the tournament come back,” McLean said. Goosetown was cancelled last year over a concessions contract dispute.

The women said they would not have participated in the tournament without camping.

They expressed appreciation for Hill.

“He’s awesome,” McLean said.

Cole shared similar thoughts.

“Bill Hill does a great job running this thing,” he said. “He never lets us down.”

Hill grew up in the Goosetown neighborhood in Anaconda. He has fans and foes, some of them strident, but many in the business community say the tournament brings in important revenue.  

Meanwhile, back at the Legion Field, a non-player with big ears briefly took the field, as noted by the public address announcer.

“We’ve got ourselves a little bunny rabbit out here on the field,” he said. “Anybody got any carrots? Or is that a stereotype?”

Collection Photos: Goosetown Softball Tournament returns to Anaconda for 51st year