Ballplayers' night to Howwwl

CLOVIS — The sight of someone walking down 14th Street, after dark, wearing a mask and carrying a softball bat could be cause for alarm.

But this weekend, it was fun — just part of the 25th Annual Halloween Howwwl softball tournament that runs through this afternoon.

Clovis Softball Association Tournament Coordinator Roger Jackson said 150 teams competed, including 25 who were trying to win games in addition to the tournament’s costume contest.

Jackson said the Howwwl is CSA’s largest tournament of the year.

“It’s grown to be a lot of fun,” he said.

This year the team Rukus, which has been competing in the tournament for close to a decade, went with a Las Vegas theme, complete with a queen of hearts, a doll from Las Vegas Strip staple comedian Jeff Dunham’s act, and a manager dressed as Elvis.

“It’s one of my favorites. I love the fun that comes with it. We always like to dress crazy,” said J’Drian Lawson, one of multiple players dressed as mimes.

Lawson said in the past the team has dressed as troll dolls, hippies, zombies and minions from the “Despicable Me” films.

Ashley Townsend made the trip from Amarillo to compete in the tournament for the second straight year, noting the tournament’s unique environment.

“We’re out here to have fun,” she said. “We had a blast.”

Costume contest winners were scheduled to be announced today.