Saturday at the AYF Olympics
Every day is special at the AYF Olympics and has its own vibe. Saturday’s vibe is particularly popular, combining the Softball Tournament with an old-fashioned Armenian picnic, followed in the evening by a dance featuring an Armenian singer from the U.S. or around the world.
The Softball Tournament is the only team sport in the Olympics. It is coed and doesn’t count toward the overall tally of points for the Olympic Cup. You read that correctly: chapters prepare for this, compete vigorously and get zero points for it. They compete for pride and the pure enjoyment of the game. On top of all this, AYF softball is a crowd favorite.
Providence has put together a powerhouse team and has won the AYF Softball Tournament four years in a row. They are intent on making it five in a row. Their success has inspired other chapters to practice harder in hopes of bringing the Softball Championship back to Detroit, New Jersey, Chicago, the West Coast or Philly. Other chapters are looking to be a Cinderella winner or a bit of a spoiler. This has all made for some very exciting softball.
New Jersey wanted to win on their home turf and ended up playing Providence in the second round. They gave Providence a good scare, anchored by several amazing catches from their center fielder, Michael Tarpinian, that kept Providence from running up the score.
Good defense seemed to be the theme of the day, with lower-scoring games than we are used to seeing. Philadelphia bested the West Coast by one run, 9-8. In the game to determine third and fourth place, Chicago beat Philly 8-7.
Detroit and Providence squared off in the championship game. Both teams made some amazing plays, but Providence ended up winning 10-8. They gave the game ball to Lily Janigian for some great plays as catcher, along with a triple, a double and several runs scored. Those impressive clutch hits inspired her teammates.
Look for more details of the AYF Softball Tournament in the Armenian Weekly’s Olympic Special Edition Magazine.
Beyond the softball, the picnic was equally phenomenal. In the ‘50s and ‘60s, the AYF Olympics often had a Monday picnic. They were well attended until the ‘70s and ‘80s, when that tradition died out because of people’s travel plans and a desire to get home earlier on Labor Day. The Saturday picnic started in Detroit in 2014, and when it was combined with softball around the same era, it was an instant hit and a winning formula.
Jersey took that tradition to another level with the superb quality of the food they prepared. They also had plenty of shaded seating for those more interested in visiting than watching softball. Norkef Ensemble provided the music, as they have for the past few years.
After cleanup and dinner, everyone gathered again for the Saturday Night dance featuring Elie Berberian, whom I have dubbed “the Armenian Pitbull” because the two singers share a similar look and bold on-stage presence. Elie packed the ballroom and had everyone up and engaged throughout the night. It was electric, making for the perfect cap to a beautiful Saturday at the AYF Olympics.
Now, off to get some sleep for the big day of Track and Field on Sunday.
For more detailed coverage, stay tuned for the Armenian Weekly’s AYF Olympics Special Edition Magazine. Please consider sponsoring the magazine, and supporting the Armenian Weekly by becoming a subscriber.
