Boys dress up and get dirt on their skirts for a good cause

WESTPHALIA, Mo. -- These guys put Madonna in "A League of Their Own" to shame.

The male participants in the six-team Boys as Babes softball tournament played just as hard as Madonna's character in the classic film about women playing baseball.

However, these boys had the additional challenge of not only wearing a skirt, but also hats, jewelry, makeup and a variety of other accessories.

Spectators paid a $5 to watch three one-hour games at the Lions Field in Westphalia last weekend. Proceeds from the event will benefit the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life.

"I feel sorry for women with long hair," said Keith Rademan, of Osage Bend, Mo., a first-timer to the event who wore a pink dress with matching nail polish. "I feel sorry, but just a little bit."

To whistles and cheers, players for the Hooters team fielded balls hit into play with their purses and ladies' handbags. Some players used the basket technique while others opted to use the purse like a mitt. Their opponents in this game, Tommy's Girls, managed to get several hits even though they had to bat the opposite way they normally do.

"I am just going to wing it," said Budweiser girl Matt Johnson, of Jefferson City, while he was waiting for his game to start. "I plan on playing hard, but I might mess up my hair and makeup. This is pretty humorous and should be a lot of fun."

Even though the guys might be hindered by using purses as gloves and switch hitting, the players were going to be competitive, several of them said.

"We are going to play like big girls," said Chance Durbin, who got his outfit from a garage sale. "We are going to play to win."

A large crowd gathered for the first game of the evening between the Hooters and Tommy's Girls. Players scolded each other for certain behaviors that weren't feminine such as throwing cooler lids. Others commented on how well some had managed to stuff their bras for the charity event.

"I love just the comedy of it," said Brian Bruemmer, of Wardsville, Mo., while he watched from the stands with his wife, Karrie. "I'm surprised at how they are fielding pretty well. And they have everything, earrings, makeup and accessories."

While Eric Wulff, of Koeltztown, Mo., prepared for his game to start, his cousin Shelby Wulff pointed out that his bra strap was showing. She also criticized his choice of a red, blue and silver sparkly wig. Eric defended the selection, saying it matched his red flower-print dress.

"This is not comfortable," he said. "My buddies and I just got together and decided to do something a little different."