What is Over-the-Line?:
Over-the-line is a form of softball played on the beach. There are three players per team, and no running is involved.
What is the Over-The-Line World Championship?:
Put on by the Old Mission Bay Athletic Club (OMBAC), OTL serves as the primary fundraising source for OMBAC's year-round charitable programs. OTL is more than "beer, babes and bats on the beach." With worldwide competition, OTL began as a San Diego original, played by men and women from 18 to 80 years-old. It is one of the last pure Southern California traditions left untouched by commercialism.
How is it played?:
Over-the-line was invented on the beaches of San Diego. An over-the-line court is made up of a rope triangle staked out on sand. A hit is made when the ball is knocked over the line into fair territory and hits the ground without being caught. A hit may also be made when the fielder who catches the ball crosses over the line or out of fair territory or drops the ball. Three hits in one inning scores one run. No bases are physically run.
Why is the tournament so famous?:
It is semi-notorious for its rowdy reputation reflecting the anything goes beach culture: beer, babes, and the beach. The two-weekend tournament attracts sun worshippers, and combined with lots of libations, inhibitions tend to fall, so to speak. On top of that are the infamous team names that populate the competition.
Can you give some examples of rowdy names?:
Nope, this is a family publication. But if you can use your imagination (especially sexual innuendo coupled with current pop culture), then there probably has been an OTL name.
Is it a real sport?:
To the truly competitive teams, it is. But there also is a fun element to the sport. The real athletic teams tend to have the less explicit names, and also make it past the first weekend of the tournament.
Who is Ms. Emerson?:
She's the official beauty queen of the tournament. Her title is based on an old "knock knock" joke. Use your imagination.
What is OMBAC?:
OMBAC's official beginning was 1954, but its roots sprouted years before. From friendships of the late 30s, 40s and early 50s, the spirit and attitude of OMBAC evolved in Old Mission Beach. Presently, OMBAC is continuing to enjoy the respect and admiration of the community. Focused on serving amateur sports and youth athletics OMBAC enjoys unmatched leadership. If not for the dedication of its members and the unselfish gift of their time, OMBAC would no longer exist.
Over-The-Line World Championship Tournament:
WHO: Old Mission Beach Athletic Club (OMBAC)
WHAT: 56th Annual World Championship Over-The-Line (OTL) Tournament, July 2009. A form of softball, limited to 1,200 teams of three persons each, playing almost 2,400 games in two weekends with 52,000 expected to attend.
WHEN: 2009 Saturday, July 11, Sunday, July 12 & Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19, when quarter finalists take the courts. Play is from 7:30 a.m. to dusk.
WHERE: Fiesta Island on Mission Bay, San Diego, CA.
WHY: OTL serves as the primary fundraising source for OMBAC's year-round charitable programs. OTL is more than "beer, babes and bats on the beach." With worldwide competition, OTL began as a San Diego original, played by men and women from 18 to 80 years-old. It is one of the last pure Southern California traditions left untouched by commercialism.
