Corky’s Tournament, Once Postponed, Now Canceled

The annual Corky's Early Bird Slowpitch Softball Tournament is canceled for 2020. "It is with a heavy, heavy heart that I am announcing that Corky's Early Bird 2020 is canceled," wrote tournament director Loren Dietz in a recent Facebook post.The event was already postponed from its usual time of the first weekend in May to mid-September.

Dietz added, "This was a hard decision...Due to COVID restrictions, risk of liability, and the risk of losing our 501c3 status if something were to happen we decided to put our energy into making the 2021 event even better. We are sorry."

"We evaluated all options. We tried to work with state and local officials," he also stated. Dietz said, "All teams that have paid will be placed in the 2021 tournament. No action required...Right now it will be held May 1-3, 2021 and will be the biggest party ever!"

Corky's tournament raises money for charity including the Owatonna Parks and Recreation Scholarship Fund.

Another big event in southern Minnesota each year, the Shooter's Roundup at Ahlman's Gun Club near Morristown, has been canceled. The event was scheduled for August 22-23. Recently Ahlman's sent out a email that the event would go on. But officials announced a few days ago that it is now canceled.

The later email stated, "To keep our customers safe, we've been working hard all summer, making changes to Shooter's Roundup so it complies with COVID-19 rules. Our governor, however, issued a mandate that limits attendance at an outdoor event to 250 people. We've found is impossible to comply with this mandate, so with great sadness, we're cancelling Shooter's Roundup 2020."

"We plan to come back bigger and better next year and hope you'll mark the 4th weekend of August on your 2021 calendar."