Triopia coach Gene Farmer said the wind gusts were at 40 miles per hour, and I think that was a modest assessment. It was difficult to tell the teams apart with the variety of sweatshirts, stocking caps and headbands being worn. The umpires looked out of place, too, with unmatching jackets and caps.

The wind was so strong that routine plays were no longer routine. Any fly ball was a potential hit, or a potential error. In the end, it was a Triopia reserve, Meghan Carls, who spent most of the game staying warm on the bench, coming through with the winning hit in extra innings.

The crowd wasn’t very big Friday, but those who were there saw a good softball game. Kudos to the players, coaches, umpires and fans — and JJC sports editor Dennis Mathes, who filmed the game — for sticking it out, and congratulations to the Lady Trojans for a hard-fought win.