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Narrator: In Lake Tomahawk,
the phrase "Take me out to the ball game"
has different meaning.
[Popcorn popping]
Instead of peanuts, there's popcorn.
- Thank you.
- Instead of Cracker Jack, there's homemade pie.
- Man: 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... [Crack of the bat]
[Crowd cheering]
...is snowshoe baseball.
[Bat thwacks ball]
- Fan: Hey, nice shot, there you go!
[clapping] - Whoo!
- Go, go, go!
- Narrator: Since 1961, the town of Lake Tomahawk
has hosted this unusual twist on America's pastime.
- Ahh! Darn it.
- Cole Punches: Yeah, basically it's softball.
You know, it's a softball,
but we put snowshoes on and run in sawdust.
[Cheering]
- Cole Punches is an outfielder
for the home team, the Snowhawks.
- So yeah, I started when I was 15, so I've been playing for 23 years.
- Every Monday night during the summer,
fans filled the bleachers to watch Cole and The Snow Hawks
take on a visiting team.
- I love baseball, you know; I always have.
I've always loved playing baseball
and it's just a-- we got a good group of guys on our team.
- Trouble, trouble, trouble!
- It's fun. It's just a blast.
It's 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.
Running the bases is not.
[Energetic music]
- Everyone's afraid of looking stupid.
And I tell 'em, "Well, we all look stupid.
"We're running around in snowshoes in the summer.
"So, just do it, and it's fun."
- All right!
- Cole says snowshoe baseball
has become more than just a game.
It's a community event.
- Cole: 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 - 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 woodchips that come in.
Everything we have is thanks to
the people that come to the games.
It's awesome, you know?
There's some really great fans here.
[Girls cheer] - Whoo, do it, yes!
- Angela: Some are local, and some are tourists
- I came from Boise, Idaho.
I-D-A-H-O. - Idaho.
- It's not Iowa.
- Steven Hawley says he came out for one reason.
- Because they're in snowshoes! [Lady laughing]
When was the last time you played baseball in snowshoes.
It's awesome!
- On this night, even the rain couldn't keep the fans
from watching both teams try to hit the ball
and the occasional cantaloupe.
[Crowd cheers]
Just another night in Lake Tomahawk's version of
the old ball game.
- Cole: The crowd's awesome, the people are awesome.
- Yeah, go!
- Everybody that helps the organization is awesome.
It's really, really a neat thing Lake Tomahawk has.
[Thwack]
[Crowd yelling and cheering]
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