Fortitude, gutsy and perhaps even crazy — there are a number of adjectives which could describe the 36 players who gathered in St. Croix Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. to try to set the Guinness World Record for the longest softball game.
The record going into play was 117 hours and 13 minutes.
Co-organizer Justin Chislett said the previous record was established in Alberta. The St. Croix players were hoping to go for 120 hours — meaning play would continue until at least 6 p.m. Sept. 29.
If the ability was still there, Chislett said play might continue past 6 p.m.
The new world record previously held by an Alberta group of softball players could be officially broken at 3:14 Sept. 29.
On Sept. 25, shortly after 2 p.m., the Blue team led the Red team 593-471.
"Without a doubt Friday evening was the worst and hardest to get through with a steady mist falling practically the entire overnight period," said Chislett.
Players were competing in six-hour shifts and were allowed one half-hour to change their line-ups before play had to start again.
Some of the homeruns were unbelievable as they streamed over the fence at all corners of the field.
Sean Gallagher, of Hantsport, had slugged 24 homers by Sunday afternoon. Nick Harrage, of Kentville, had hit 20 and Nelson Coleman, of New Minas, had racked up 19.
Speaking from first base after his second hit within 20 minutes, Adam Boyd reported that he was hitting .500 for the record setting marathon while Katie Ormon started Sept. 26 off on an official start with an inside-the-park home run just two minutes before 6:30 a.m. Her Blue teammates said the hit came just as the sun was rising over St. Croix.
The five-day event is being recorded for Guinness World Book Record officials.
This is the first Guinness World Record event to be held in Windsor-West Hants in 22 years. The last one was in May 1988 when Windsor firefighter Barrie Wile sat 85 feet atop an aerial ladder in downtown Windsor for slightly more than 45 consecutive hours to establish a new world record in that category.
