Departments can put a team together to play in fun day against colleagues. 

The annual GBC Staff Softball Tournament between teams from various departments of the college is back again this year. 

A long-time tradition at GBC, the tournament was first started by the Athletics department over a decade ago. It is now organized every year by John Valle, staff of GBC campus shipping and receiving department. 

Valle, with the help of volunteers, has successfully organized the softball tournament every year. While a year was skipped due to the pandemic, the tournament returned with success in 2022.  

Five teams participated in the tournament last year – the Student Association (SA), Voltrons, Sons of Pitches, the Bounty Killers, and Security. Voltrons took home the trophy after a win against Sons of Pitches in the final round. 

Valle organizes various other activities and games for the GBC community throughout the year. 

However, he says the softball tournament is the most successful and popular event, “Softball is unique compared to any other thing I do at the college. We usually rent out two diamonds and play four or five teams in each field. It’s an elimination game for the whole day. It’s actually quite surprising that we get the most turnout for softball because it takes the whole day.” 

Valle says that the tournament is a good opportunity to network within the college and build connections.  

“If support staff and part-time staff are interested in joining, I would like to encourage them. It is a unique opportunity to meet others from GBC and build a network while having fun,” he said. 

The SA looks to be putting a team together to take part in the tournament again this year. 

The softball tournament will be played at Greenwood Park starting 9 a.m. on July 28. Registration is free for all teams and food and drinks will be provided. Valle finances the tournament, including food and prizes, entirely from donations. 

Interested full-time and part-time staff members can register either individually or in teams here.  

Deadline to register is July 21.