The Hotlanta Softball Leagues hosts its annual Big Peach softball tournament July 2-3 at the Southside Sports Complex and it’s sure to be a sizzler. With 41 teams signed up to compete in the annual event, there will be plenty of action on the diamond.
Action will take place off the field, too, beginning with a bar crawl on Saturday night, July 2, including stops at Woofs and the Atlanta Eagle. We asked Kyle Miller, a player with the HSL HitMob team and co-director of the tournament along with Rick “Kitchen” McCracken, to give us some insight into the tournament and his most embarrassing moment on the field.
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How many teams are participating this year and where are they coming from?
We have 41 teams this year joining us from all across the East. We have teams from New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama.
How long have you been playing with Hotlanta Softball?
This is my fifth year.
Are you a pitcher or a catcher?
I can play both positions (smiley face). But I prefer to catch.
Last year, the organizers of the Big Peach had fun names on the back of their jerseys, like ‘Tournament Mama.’ Will there be the same thing this year?
Yes, Kitchen normally puts those together for our team. I think he’s got something up his sleeve again this year.
What’s your strongest asset on the field?
Catching bugs in right field.
What’s your day job?
I’m a personal banker with Wells Fargo.
What’s your favorite memory of playing softball? What about your most embarrassing?
They probably are the same thing. A couple weeks ago the Atlanta Pink Cadets hosted a charity softball game for breast cancer awareness where players got to dress up in drag. I dressed up, got my make-up on and thought I looked flawless, but my teammates said I looked like trailer park trash.
Anyway, it was a great experience in that we got to raise some money for charity but yet had a fun time doing it and playing a sport that you loved to play.
The most embarrassing part of that day was when I was playing first base and caught a ball that was thrown to me and my wig fell off!
Top photo: Kyle Miller is co-director of the Hotlanta Softball League’s Big Peach tournament that takes place over the Fourth of July weekend. (by Dyana Bagby)