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Who said we’re in the middle of a drought?

It was strong thunderstorms that damped the Atlanta Pride Festival parade last Sunday. Yesterday, storms swept through the region in the morning and rained out the Hotlanta Softball League, one of a handful of times rain has drowned out the league’s Sunday games this season.

HSL’s Open Division – the one with teams comprised mostly of men – was playing it’s Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday, working to determine the final two teams that will join the league’s nine others heading to the Gay Softball World Series next month in Seattle.

The opening round of games was in the books, but the severe storms eventually washed out the rest of the tournament. Some 11 teams in the C and D classes are fighting for two berths to the World Series. HSL officials said today that the tournament was rescheduled for July 20, picking up where games were halted when the rain came.

The Women’s Division continues its regular on Sunday before wrapping up July 27.

For 11 teams in two divisions of the Hotlanta Softball League, this weekend is it.

The league hosts its annual Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday for the C and D classes of its Open Division. On the line are HSL’s last two remaining berths to the Gay Softball World Series.

Win the day-long tournament and they will join the league’s nine other teams that have already secured slots for the Seattle championships next month. Lose and it’s time to pack up the gloves and bats for the season.

On the line for the Wet Demons, one of six C teams competing on Sunday, is a chance to defend the Gay Softball World Series title they won in 2007. Last year, the team gained its berth by winning the Commissioner’s Cup, a feat they hope to repeat this weekend.

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The Hotlanta Softball League season is winding down.

Nearly 40 team have been battling on the six softball diamonds of the Metro Atlanta Softball Complex each Sunday since early April, after the start of the season was twice pushed back due to rain.

The men’s side wrapped up regular season play last Sunday. Class C and D teams meet again on July 13 for the Commissioner’s Cup, which helps determine the remaining HSL teams heading to the Gay Softball World Series next month.

On the women’s side, the teams pick up regular season play again July 13 before wrapping up the season on July 27.

The season also included the annual Hotlanta Softball Challenge, which drew about 40 teams from several Mid-Atlantic states, the South and Texas. For a photo gallery from the event, go here.

My recent Southern Voice sports column checked in on the three HSL teams that won titles last year at the World Series – Wet Demons, Riptide and Venom – to see if they had a chance at returning to the tournament and repeating, something an Atlanta team hasn’t done since 1997-98. The column also includes a list of HSL teams already set to appear in the World Series. Read the full story.

The Hotlanta Softball League continued on Sunday, finding the warmest temperatures so far of the season.

Play continues on Sunday at the Metro Atlanta Softball Complex in southwest Fulton County. The season takes a break on June 15 before wrapping up regular season play on June 22. The Commissioner’s Cup Tournament for the Open Division is set for June 29. On the women’s side, the season continues into late July.

In the recent Hotlanta Softball Challenge, Atlanta teams placed but didn’t win any of the four divisions. Atlanta Mudcats took third place in the A Division, Atlanta Extreme won second in B and Atlanta Packers placed third in C. In the D Division, Atlanta Steel took second and Atlanta Big Tease won third. Orlando teams dominated the Memorial Day Weekend event, winning three of the four championships.

A potion of my Memorial Day Weekend included stops at the three gay sporting events taking place in Atlanta. Well four, really, if you count the home opener of the Atlanta Dream season. As well stocked with lesbians as Philips Arena was for the game, it’s safe to call that WNBA game a gay event.

Back to the others last weekend – Hotlanta Soccer Classic, Hotlanta Softball Challenge and the annual convention of the International Gay Bowling Organization. In addition to the photos from the events you can see here and here, I also talked with participants for my Southern Voice sports column this week. Read the full story.

Updated | June 1 What better way to enjoy a long holiday weekend than to spend it with hundreds of your favorite gay and lesbian softball players?

That was the approach of about 40 teams that stopped in Atlanta over Memorial Day Weekend to take part in the Hotlanta Softball Challenge, an annual tournament from the Hotlanta Softball League to raise money for HSL teams heading to the Gay World Series in August.

Participants, who came several from Mid-Atlantic states, the South and Texas, didn’t seem to mind the trek to the fields at the Metro Atlanta Softball Complex in southwest Fulton County. Staying in the host hotel in Midtown meant a half-hour drive to play, but kept participants close to the nightlife.

“It’s a great location and it’s pretty close,” says Tony Julian, a member of the Sarasota Strokers from Tampa. “I would much rather stay downtown and play here rather than stay closer to the fields and have to go into town.”

Scott Dunkle, a member of the Tooth Fairies from Orlando, agrees.

“I’m glad that they had us stay in Midtown where all the action is,” he says.

The Hotlanta Softball Challenge was one of three gay sports events held in Atlanta over Memorial Day Weekend. The others include the Hotlanta Soccer Classic and the International Gay Bowling Organization’s annual convention.

Update | The list of winners includes Orlando Force (A Division), Orlando Broadway Crush (B), Knoxville Cyclones (C) and Orlando Tooth Fairies (D). Atlanta teams placing include the Atlanta Mudcats (Third, A Division), Atlanta Xtreme (Second, B), Atlanta Packers (Third, C) and Atlanta Big Tease (Third, D).

If you’re still in Atlanta this weekend (many gay folks head south to Pensacola) and not fully occupied with the Atlanta Dream (they play tonight and Sunday afternoon), there are some sporty gay options for your Memorial Day holiday.

Nearly 700 gay and lesbian bowlers are here for the International Gay Bowling Organization Annual 2008, the conference and tournament by the body that sanctions gay bowling. They will take over two bowling centers – in Midtown and Norcross – for the event.

Organizers of the annual Dixie Invitational Bowling Tournament in Atlanta put together the bid for the event, which returns to the city after a 15-year absence. The event also includes a display on Sunday of the 23 IGBO panels created for the AIDS Memorial Quilt.

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It wasn’t always pretty. But the Hotlanta Softball League took a break from the season on Saturday for its annual Mr. & Ms. HSL Pageant, a part-camp, part-beefcake show that raises funds for teams heading to the Gay Softball World Series this August.

I had fun as a judge and snapped photos between jotting down scores, knocking back drinks and generally just enjoying the show at the Wild Mustang along with a few hundred other HSL players and fans.

If my notes are correct – like I said, there were drinks involved – Wesley Sumpter of the Adrenaline Rush won the drag portion of the event, beating out 14 other competitors with his character Booger Delight. On the hunk side, Tim Word of the Packers took first place, besting 10 other contestants.

Being sporty this weekend has never been so easy. There’s cycling, a pageant and a couple of opportunities to get your drink on.

At 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, some 100 cyclists are expected to push off from their starting line at Emory University to begin a 200-mile bike ride. The 6th Annual Action Cycling 200 is expected to raise more than $75,000 for the Emory Vaccine Center, which develops vaccines for AIDS and other infectious diseases.

At noon, there’s the “Ruggers & Buggers & Buns” cookout and fund-raiser for the Atlanta Bucks Rugby Football Club. The event serves as an early send-off for the rugby team, which travels to Ireland in June to compete in the International Gay Rugby Association & Board championships. A $10 ticket – $15 at the door – means all the burgers, hot dogs, brats, sides and dessert you can eat.

Later in the day, the Hotlanta Softball League hosts its annual pageant for the Open Division. The Mr. & Ms. HSL Pageant raises about $3,000 for the league, which splits it among teams taking part in the Gay Softball World Series in August. Admission is $10. Show time is 6 p.m.

“It’s some of the ugliest drag and some of the studliest men in Atlanta,” says Art Davenport, HSL’s secretary. “It is a real evening of contrasts.”

On Sunday, the Hotlanta Soccer Association is hosting a wine raffle to raise funds for its tournament over the Memorial Day holiday. Tickets to the raffle, which includes more than $2,500 in wine, are $5. The raffle takes place during “Margaritas, Mojitos & Mischief,” an event that costs $15 and includes unlimited margaritas and mojitos. The event begins at 4 p.m.

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If you’re not heading to the beach for Memorial Day Weekend, there’s plenty of sporty stuff left to do in Atlanta during the holiday.

There’s the Hotlanta Softball Challenge, the Hotlanta Soccer Classic and the International Gay Bowling Organization Annual 2008. More than 1,000 gay and lesbian athletes will be in town for the events, which will provide no shortage of competition and better yet, eye candy.

For a more detailed look at the events, check out my current Southern Voice sports column. Read the full story.