With relaxed competition and good sportsmanship, the Iowa Games co-ed softball tournament proved to be a fun-packed weekend of sports and good-humored conversation.

“Hey ump, check that guy’s shoes for a spring,” yelled a player, poking fun of the spectacular catch made by the opposing team’s shortstop.

John Lightfoot, an Iowa Games competitor for six years, said every year’s experience is positive.

“It’s a great weekend, because the participants and staff are really friendly,” said Lightfoot, a member of the Wunderlich Excavating and Plumbing team from Burlington.

The team traveled three hours for the event held at South River Valley Park in Ames. Seven teams entered the coed division for a double-elimination tournament with seven-inning games.

Team Wunderlich left Ames late Sunday afternoon carrying both the tournament trophy and the sportsmanship award.

Linda Lowinski, tournament coordinator, said the sportsmanship award is a great honor to receive.

The umpires, who have a firsthand view on how each team conducted themselves, select the winner of the award.

“This weekend was a blast, and even though we lost in the championship game, it was a good time,” said Team Wackos member Karri Keegel. The Knoxville team finished second in the tournament.

Sunday, the tournament’s second day, began with rain. Fortunately, the rest of the day stayed dry, allowing a maintenance crew, with help from players, time to prepare the field for a full day of games.

“The field turned out great, thanks to the maintenance crew and the players who helped out,” Lowinski said.

“It was actually a blessing,” said Cheri Landstrom. “We had the chance to get more sleep in the morning.”

Landstrom is a member of Wunderlich Excavating and Plumbing.

Dean Williams, with 16 years of experience working in the Iowa Games, has seen a lot of growth in the Iowa Games through the years. Since the start of the games in 1987, the softball commissioner said the number of participants in softball has increased steadily.

“The Iowa Games is a wonderful event for Iowa,” he said, “Every year the games are growing and it definitely brings a lot of people into Ames.”

The tournament champion plans to be back.

“The team, as do I, looks forward to this weekend every year,” Lightfoot said.