The first weekend after Independence Day each year is a wonderful softball tournament in Anaconda, Montana. It is called Goosetown and has been an on-going event for the past several decades. Hundreds of softball teams from all over the west come to compete. Games are played on every field available from Butte to Deer Lodge to Anaconda.
This season I went to play with Charles Smith’s Flip Squad softball team. The photographs in this album of the Flip Squad playing softball were taken by Jackie Lew. The lighting for that game was not the greatest for getting crisp photos. Between innings I would make some adjustments to the settings in order to be able to take photographs as the light diminished. Unfortunately, even with some of the settings they were pretty dark. I used Lightroom to lighten them but the graininess shows. Nonetheless, it was rad to have Jackie taking the photos.
All the photos in this set were taken using a Canon 70D with a Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens.
I hope by Goosetown 2017 I will have my new glass which would have made for some awesome photographs. Stay tuned for that!
Kiel Bates.
Kiel Bates.
Briana Young and Kiel Bates.
Briana Young and Kiel Bates.
That moment before the ball experiences a great force in the opposite direction.
That moment before the ball experiences a great force in the opposite direction.
Sandra Hunt is not impressed with the pitch.
Sandra Hunt is not impressed with the pitch.
Sandra Hunt swinging.
Sandra Hunt swinging.
Jenny McMillan ready to make contact with the ball.
Jenny McMillan ready to make contact with the ball.
Jenny McMillan making her way to second base as the second baseman fields the ball.
Jenny McMillan making her way to second base as the second baseman fields the ball.
Jenny McMillan is headed to second as the second baseman tosses the ball to the shortstop.
Jenny McMillan is headed to second as the second baseman tosses the ball to the shortstop.
Jackie Lew watches as the shortstop tries to make a play on the ball after it was tossed to her by the second baseman. Jenny McMillan is headed to second.
Jackie Lew watches as the shortstop tries to make a play on the ball after it was tossed to her by the second baseman. Jenny McMillan is headed to second.
Mid-throw.
Mid-throw.
Jessica Stapleton throwing to first.
Jessica Stapleton throwing to first.
Elsa Olney pitching.
Elsa Olney pitching.
Elsa Olney prepares to pitch.
Elsa Olney prepares to pitch.
Solid-looking swing.
Solid-looking swing.
Jessica Stapleton in mid-swing.
Jessica Stapleton in mid-swing.
The third baseman looks intently at her target.
The third baseman looks intently at her target.
Josh McKinstry -- The Man!
Josh McKinstry -- The Man!
If you're the baserunner, this doesn't look good.
If you're the baserunner, this doesn't look good.
Someone is fixin' to get tagged out.
Someone is fixin' to get tagged out.
Uh oh.
Uh oh.
Jenny McMillan at first base with a hard hit ball coming down the line. The runner on first base had to jump out of the way.
Jenny McMillan at first base with a hard hit ball coming down the line. The runner on first base had to jump out of the way.
Ryan Brown watching some women's softball action in his brand new Goosetown hoodie.
Ryan Brown watching some women's softball action in his brand new Goosetown hoodie.
Jenny McMillan is ready to catch the ball at first base.
Jenny McMillan is ready to catch the ball at first base.
Jackie Lew makes contact.
Jackie Lew makes contact.
Third baseman goes back and catches the pop-up.
Third baseman goes back and catches the pop-up.
Jessica Stapleton watches the shortstop fire the ball to turn two.
Jessica Stapleton watches the shortstop fire the ball to turn two.
The first baseman prepares for the ball.
The first baseman prepares for the ball.
Sandra Hunt safely on base.
Sandra Hunt safely on base.
Jackie Lew prepares for her next AB.
Jackie Lew prepares for her next AB.
Jenny McMillan at the plate.
Jenny McMillan at the plate.
Shortstop making a sliding play.
Shortstop making a sliding play.
Shortstop makes a sliding play on the ball and quickly gets up to make a play at second base.
Shortstop makes a sliding play on the ball and quickly gets up to make a play at second base.
Adrian Silva, Josh McKinstry, and Jackie Lew.
Adrian Silva, Josh McKinstry, and Jackie Lew.
Briana Young behind the dish.
Briana Young behind the dish.
Elsa Olney pitching.
Elsa Olney pitching.
Briana Young stretches her foot in order to be safe at first.
Briana Young stretches her foot in order to be safe at first.
Sandra Hunt swinging away.
Sandra Hunt swinging away.
Charles Smith.
Charles Smith.
Jordan Palmer is waiting for the ball to cross the plate.
Jordan Palmer is waiting for the ball to cross the plate.
Josh McKinstry about to unleash on the ball. Sucks to be the ball.
Josh McKinstry about to unleash on the ball. Sucks to be the ball.
Jordan Palmer watching the play at first unfold.
Jordan Palmer watching the play at first unfold.
Jared Evenson.
Jared Evenson.
Bobby Purkhiser making the play at first.
Bobby Purkhiser making the play at first.
Thomas Alkire makes contact with the ball.
Thomas Alkire makes contact with the ball.
Jared Evenson swinging away.
Jared Evenson swinging away.
Jordan Palmer is feeding Adrian Silva.
Jordan Palmer is feeding Adrian Silva.
Adrian Silva going to turn two!
Adrian Silva going to turn two!
Thomas Alkire going back for the catch.
Thomas Alkire going back for the catch.
Stand up double.
Stand up double.
Jordan Palmer with his eye on the ball.
Jordan Palmer with his eye on the ball.
Kiel Bates headed into third.
Kiel Bates headed into third.
Kiel Bates is safe at third.
Kiel Bates is safe at third.
Josh McKinstry -- it looks like he works out too!
Josh McKinstry -- it looks like he works out too!
Bobby Purkhiser unleashing on the ball.
Bobby Purkhiser unleashing on the ball.
Charles Smith -- yes he works out.
Charles Smith -- yes he works out.
Adrian Silva is tracking the ball.
Adrian Silva is tracking the ball.
Thomas Alkire is at the plate, Bobby Purkhiser is at the on-deck circle, Kiel Bates, Brian Gaede, Josh Mayson and I are waiting our turn to bat.
Thomas Alkire is at the plate, Bobby Purkhiser is at the on-deck circle, Kiel Bates, Brian Gaede, Josh Mayson and I are waiting our turn to bat.
Jared Evenson is showing his 'war face'. Gunnery Sergeant Hartman would be proud.
Jared Evenson is showing his 'war face'. Gunnery Sergeant Hartman would be proud.
Adrian Silva preparing to make the catch.
Adrian Silva preparing to make the catch.
Jared Evenson firing the ball from the outfield.
Jared Evenson firing the ball from the outfield.
Jared Evenson making a catch in the outfield.
Jared Evenson making a catch in the outfield.
Tim Kreuch, Adrian Silva, and Josh Mayson between innings.
Tim Kreuch, Adrian Silva, and Josh Mayson between innings.
Jordan Palmer and Charles Smith.
Jordan Palmer and Charles Smith.
Brian Gaede stepping to the plate.
Brian Gaede stepping to the plate.
How much do you want to bet the ball goes foul?
How much do you want to bet the ball goes foul?
Kiel Bates is ready to unload.
Kiel Bates is ready to unload.
Tim Kreuch in full swing.
Tim Kreuch in full swing.
Kiel Bates getting back safely.
Kiel Bates getting back safely.
Jordan Palmer making contact.
Jordan Palmer making contact.
Kiel Bates watching for base coach Charles Smith to give him a sign.
Kiel Bates watching for base coach Charles Smith to give him a sign.
Adrian Silva with a stretch.
Adrian Silva with a stretch.
This was a flyball to left-center field, caused two players to collide, they were on the ground for a period of time... and the guy who caught the ball held on to it.
This was a flyball to left-center field, caused two players to collide, they were on the ground for a period of time... and the guy who caught the ball held on to it.
When your hits will not drop even though the players do.
When your hits will not drop even though the players do.
Jordan Palmer's dance moves.
Jordan Palmer's dance moves.
Adrian Silva fielding a ball thrown in from the outfield.
Adrian Silva fielding a ball thrown in from the outfield.
Tim Kreuch and Jordan Palmer preparing for the next pitch.
Tim Kreuch and Jordan Palmer preparing for the next pitch.
Josh McKinstry looking back over his shoulder on his way to third base.
Josh McKinstry looking back over his shoulder on his way to third base.
Jordan Palmer, Jared Evenson, and Me -- with some photoshoppin' happenin'.
Jordan Palmer, Jared Evenson, and Me -- with some photoshoppin' happenin'.
Jordan Palmer, Jared Evenson, and Me -- B&W style.
Jordan Palmer, Jared Evenson, and Me -- B&W style.
Jordan Palmer is wound up like a rubber band that is about to explode!
Jordan Palmer is wound up like a rubber band that is about to explode!
Jordan Palmer fires a ball across the infield.
Jordan Palmer fires a ball across the infield.
Adrian Silva fielding the ball thrown in by Kiel Bates.
Adrian Silva fielding the ball thrown in by Kiel Bates.
Jordan Palmer watching the ball into his glove.
Jordan Palmer watching the ball into his glove.
Josh McKinstry making the play at first.
Josh McKinstry making the play at first.
Jordan Palmer fields a ball thrown in from Josh McKinstry in the outfield.
Jordan Palmer fields a ball thrown in from Josh McKinstry in the outfield.
A ball is hit between Tim Kreuch at 3rd and Jordan Palmer at SS.
A ball is hit between Tim Kreuch at 3rd and Jordan Palmer at SS.
Preparing for my next AB.
Preparing for my next AB.