The CERN Softball Club's and Geneva Softball League's Bernie Tourney for GSL and invited teams.

Introduction

Bernie Tourney 2009 will take place on July 18, 19 and will be hosted at Higgs field at CERN Prevessin site. Expected participants include are six of the seven regular teams from the Geneva Softball League. ( Unfortunately the Die-Hards, the Geneva Jets and the Embrach Slow-Bows cannot make it this year). The teams attending will be competing to have the team name inscribed on the prized Bernie Plate, a hand-crafted trophy designed and constructed by local softball artist Paul Garritty.

Please note: Players are welcome to bring family and friends, but please let the organisers know also the names of non-playing members and your car license plate information. Preferably provide this via the Security Form, or in case of difficulty by sending it to your coach.

Game Schedule

The complete schedule of game depends on seeding from league play and then the first day results. Updated schedules will be posted below Games start at 11:00 on Saturday and Sunday and last until late afternoon. We expect that preliminary games (not the Final!) will be 60 minutes / 5 innings. Seeding for Sunday is based on Saturday's results, average beer consumption, and the alignment of the nearest home-runs to the scheduler's car. Teams qualifying for the semi-finals will be required to provide an umpire each for these matches and the final. The Final will be a 7 inning game with no time limit. Home/Away for every game will be determined by a coin toss.

Revised Saturday, July 18th: Revised due to Weather

 
    15:15  Leptons (A) 10 vs Buena Vista (H) 16
    16:15  Quarks (A) 3 vs Bulls (H) 4
    17:15  La Bise (A) 7 vs Smoking Dozers (H) 5, in two extra innings (7)

Sunday, July 19th

Planned schedule (Revised - Version 3.0)
    10:30  Quarks (H) 1 vs Leptons (A) 14
    11:30  Buena Vista W vs La Bise L
    12:30  Bulls (A) 7  vs Smoking Dozers (H) 11 
    13:30  Seed 3 Dozers W vs Seed 6 Quarks L
    14:30  Seed 4 Leptons (H) 10  vs Seed 5 Bulls (A) 5
    15:30  Seed 2 La Bise W vs Winner Game 1 Dozers L
    16:30  Seed 1 Buena Vista (H) 8 vs Winner Game 2 Leptons (A) 4 


 Final  (7 innings, 7 runs/inning max, no time max)
    17:30  Final  ( 7 innings, 7 runs/innings max except last)
           Buena Vista L vs La Bise W

Parking/Safety Rules

A designated parking area will be provided, with plenty of parking spots near the field. It is safer to park directly behind the fence than next to it. If you are afraid of your car getting hit by a softball, it is recommended to park in the restaurant parking lot. Neither CERN nor the Softball Club accept responsibility for damage or injury caused by tournament activities, including normal softball play (for example home runs).

Families are welcomed and encouraged to show up. Parents, however, are asked to take care that children, and small domestic animals, stay clear of the playing field, to prevent injury. Players and guests need to remain in the area of the tournament and the surrounding field, and not wander around the site, respecting the host site request.

Food and Drink

Ice cold beverages will also be on sale at a good price - please do not bring your own , unless you have special dietary needs (eg milk for the youngest.) Please DO bring extra water.

Grills are available next to the field. We will provide some prepared food (hot dogs, sausages, salads ) - please contact Sharon Hitchcock Hagen if you are interested to contribute.

There is plenty of space for picnics and other activities.

Map of Higgs Field located the CERN site in Prévessin, France.

Map and Directions

Higgs Field is located on the CERN site in Prévessin, France. A map locating the field can be found here. or using Google Maps at
View Bernie Tournament 2009 in a larger map

In 2009 the event could NOT be scheduled to coincide with the CERN Hardronic Festival, which will take place in the neighbouring field a week later on Saturday, July 25th.

About Bernie

The Bernie Tourney is a festive celebration of softball, organized to honor the memory of Bernard Sutton, the founding father of CERN Softball and one of the key organizers of the Geneva Softball League. Bernie helped to build and run the PS, SPS and LEP colliders during his long and colorful career as an accelerator engineer at CERN. His contributions to both CERN and the CERN Clubs were countless. The Softball Club salutes Bernie the only way we know how: On the field and at the BBQ grill!