More than 1,000 players on some 80 men’s and women’s teams from across the country — including as many as 25 teams from Hamilton — are coming back to Turner Park for the National Slo-Pitch Association (Canada) Canadian World Series that runs from July 30 to Aug. 2.

The World Series title is borrowed from an association in the U. S which runs a similar tournament.

Last year 49 teams took part.

Darlene Bowman, who’s been playing slo pitch for nearly 40 years, is one of the organizers.

She credits the help of the city and Tourism Hamilton for bringing the event to Turner Park for the first time last year as well as helping book hotel rooms and student residence space at Mohawk College, McMaster University and Redeemer College for players to stay this year.

They’re hoping to make the Civic holiday tournament a permanent fixture on the competitive slo pitch circuit in Canada.

“That’s our goal,” said Bowman, who noted there will be six divisions, including for the first time a men’s division featuring players age 60 and over.

Men’s and women’s teams are placed in divisions from elite to recreational based on the skill level of the players.

There is no co-ed division.

Games start around 11 a. m. and run to 11 p. m. thanks to the recently installed lights on eight of the 13 diamonds.

Tournament organizers are paying the city $4,500 for the use of Turner Park and according to David Adames, executive director of Tourism Hamilton, the event is worth just over $900,000 to the local economy.

While some players will be out on the field for fun and the chance to share a cold beer or two with their teammates and competitors, many will be taking the tournament very seriously.

Bowman noted the top teams in the elite divisions can win as much as $1,500 plus team jackets and rings.

Bowman will join Sue Brown, another tournament organizer and veteran slo pitch player, on Team Survival.

The local women’s squad finished third in the tournament last year, but they’re hoping to finish first this time round.

Brown, who is also a well-known umpire and supervisor of officials in local slo-pitch, agreed the sport virtually takes over her life in the summer.

With league play as a member of two teams plus tournaments almost every weekend, Brown figures she plays as many as 100 games each season, not to mention all the other games were she’s an on-field official.

“It’s a big part of my social life,” said Brown.

“We’re never home on weekends,” added Bowman.

Men’s and women’s teams are still being accepted for the tournament. See www.nsacanada for more information.