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10 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday July 14, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com REG VERTOLLI / OAKVILLE BEAVER DEREK WOOLLAM / OAKVILLE BEAVER CHAMPIONSHIP FORM: Homes Publishing teammates celebrate with high-fives after beating Mattamy in the final game. EYE ON THE BALL: A batter for Aspen Ridge Homes Ltd. aims for the fences at Glenashton Park. IT'S A HIT: Brad Deforest, of Ballantry Homes, slugs the ball. KAREN NEWMAN / OAKVILLE BEAVER DEREK WOOLLAM / OAKVILLE BEAVER STRETCH: A member of St. Lawrence Cement tracks down a line-drive at Glenashton Park. MIST raises $531,498 for Oakville Y The Mayor's Invitational Softball Tournament (MIST) for the YMCA of Oakville celebrated its 10th anniversary on the fields of Oakville, with host Mattamy Homes last. More than 450 players on 32 teams participated in the charity tournament to raise $531,498.59 for the YMCA of Oakville and its Peter Gilgan Family Y membership facility. MIST teams included employees of Mattamy Homes, a roster of other home builders, members of the building trades from across southwestern Ontario, plus representatives from the Region of Halton and the Town of Oakville. Tournament games were played on eight diamonds at four Oakville parks and then the ballplayers headed to Trafalgar Park for a spectacular series of semi-finals and the championship game. More than 100 volunteers from the YMCA, Mattamy Homes and the Oakville Girls' Softball Association worked together to make this winning charitable event a reality. Over the years, the fundraiser has grown from eight teams to 32, and from being held in a backyard playing field to taking place in four parks maintained by the Town of Oakville. The Mayor's Invitational Softball Tournament is the YMCA of Oakville's most significant fundraising special event. In 2007, MIST celebrated its 10th anniversary by incorporating `tin', the traditional 10th anniversary symbol, into the event's theme in elements such as the baseball cap emblem and metallic-coloured loot bags. The fields were ready at 8 a.m. on tournament day ­ thanks to the efforts of The Oakville Girls' Softball Association and the Town of Oakville. Breakfast was served at all eight diamonds, followed by several hours of intense, but friendly, competition. Players enjoyed a barbecued lunch of ball-park hot dogs provided by McDonald's Oakville. Park playoffs determined first, second and third place teams that continued playing in the semi-finals at 3:30 p.m. YMCA of Oakville CEO Bruce Ireland threw the opening pitch for the championship game at Trafalgar Park between Mattamy East GTA Division and Homes Publishing Group. A long day did not dampen the competition and both teams played to win. Homes Publishing slid into the championship position with spectacular infield play -- the final score was 12-5 for Homes against Mattamy East. The Awards Dinner held at the Oakville Arena was emceed with energy and fun by Oakville native and former Toronto Argonaut Dan Ferrone. During the cheque presentation ceremony, Bruce Ireland, CEO of the YMCA of Oakville, and Peter Gilgan, CEO of Mattamy Homes thanked volunteers, sponsors and players for their efforts that made this event such a resounding success. The YMCA of Oakville is a charitable association open to all, and dedicated to providing life-long opportunities for health enhancement and personal growth. In 2006, the YMCA of Oakville provided fee assistance to over 1,500 children and families in need.