Wisconsin Life

In Lake Tomahawk, the phrase "Take me out to the ballgame" has a different meaning.

popping

Instead of peanuts, there's popcorn. Here you go. - Thank you. Instead of Cracker Jack, there's homemade pie. It's pretty good, isn't it, bud? You don't need a fork. And instead of cleats, the teams take the field in a less functional form of footwear. This...

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Fans

Run it out! G-g-go!...is snowshoe baseball.

cheering

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Fans

Nice shot! There he goes! Whoo!

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Fans

Go, go, go!

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Fans

Since 1961, the Town of Lake Tomahawk has hosted this unusual twist on America's pastime.

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Fans

Argggg! Darn it! Yeah, basically it's softball. You know, it's a soft ball but yeah, we put snowshoes on, and run in sawdust. Cole Punches is an outfielder for the home team, the Snowhawks. I started when I was 15 so, I've been playing for 23 years. Every Monday night during the summer, fans fill the bleachers to watch Cole and the Snowhawks take on a visiting team. I love baseball. You know, I always have. I've always loved playing baseball and it's just--we've got a good group of guys on our team. Trouble, trouble, trouble! It's fun. It's just a blast. Something unique. You know, it's something different. The ball is softer than a normal softball and the fielders don't wear gloves. Otherwise, the rules are simple.

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Fans

Running the bases is not. Everyone's afraid of looking stupid and I tell them, "Well, we all look stupid. "We're running around in snowshoes in the summer. So just do it. And it's fun."

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Fans

Cole says snowshoe baseball has become more than just a game. It's a community event. It is a big deal. The people at the concession stand joke that people come for the pies and stay for the snowshoe baseball game. Thank you. A butterfly net is passed around mid-game to collect donations... Thank you. - Thank you!...to help keep the lights on. We got new lights and we have fencing and the wood chips that come in. Everything we have is thanks to the people that come to the games.

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Fans

It's awesome. There're some really great fans here. Yeah! - Whoo, whoo! Some are local, and some are tourists. I came from Boise, Idaho. I-D-A-H-O. It's not Iowa.

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Fans

Steve Hawley says he came out for one reason. Because they're in snowshoes! When was the last time you played baseball in snowshoes?

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Fans

It's awesome. On this night... All right!...even the rain couldn t keep the fans from watching both teams try to hit the ball and the occasional cantaloupe.

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fans cheer loudly

Fans

Just another night in Lake Tomahawk's version of the old ball game. The crowd's awesome. The people are awesome. Yeah! Go!

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Fans

Everybody that helps the organization is awesome. It's just--it's really really a neat thing Lake Tomahawk has.