The heat of competition

OLIVE PARK — Players from the Burbank Park, Recreation and Community Services Ponytail Softball League worked too hard this season to have their party spoiled by hot weather.

So, despite searing heat above 100 degrees, the athletes flocked to Olive Park on Saturday to take part in the annual Ponytail Softball Jamboree end-of-the-year celebration.

Like their Hap Minor Baseball counterparts the week before, the softball players invaded the park for their traditional skills competition, food and refreshments.

The day began with a parade from the Media City Center Mall to Olive Park for the annual skills competition and awards ceremony. In the skills competition, players took part in four events — hitting for distance, throwing for accuracy, baserunning and throwing for distance — and won awards for their accomplishments.

— Jeff Tully