- 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... [whack]
- Fans: Run it out! G-g-go!
...is snowshoe baseball.
[cheering]
[whack]
- Nice shot! There he goes!
- Whoo! [clapping]
- Go, go, go!
[whack]
- Since 1961, the Town of Lake Tomahawk
has hosted this unusual twist on America's pastime.
[whack]
- 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.
[whack]
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."
[whack]
- 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.
[whack]
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.
[whack]
- Steve Hawley says he came out for one reason.
- Because they're in snowshoes!
When was the last time you played baseball in snowshoes?
[whack]
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.
[whack]
[fans cheer loudly]
Just another night
in Lake Tomahawk's version of the old ball game.
- The crowd's awesome.
The people are awesome.
- Yeah! Go! [cheering]
- Everybody that helps the organization is awesome.
It's just--it's really really a neat thing Lake Tomahawk has.