The bases at Riverain Park will be loaded with men in skirts and girls in greaser jackets on the afternoon of Aug 25, when the third annual Divas versus Dykes charity baseball game takes place.
Organized by Marshall Rowat and Bobby Dagenais, this year’s Divas versus Dykes is hosted by the Gay Softball League and promises to redefine what it means to be a pitcher or a catcher. In addition to the showdown between drag queens and lesbians, there will also be a game that pits bears against twinks and trans players, ensuring there will be plenty of high drama on and off the field. The day includes a barbecue and a 50/50 draw, and all funds raised will benefit Bruce House.
The theme of this year’s match is an old gay favourite, the musical Grease. The Divas team will be decked out in their best poodle skirts, while the Dykes will be doing their best John Travolta impersonations.
The Divas have won the last two years, but Dagenais says the queens should be running scared this year, practising by gripping hard wood and keeping their eyes on those balls.
“I think it will be pretty close,” Dagenais says. “The Dykes might make a run for it this year. They’re training hard already, and they are coming back with a vengeance. I’m not sure the Divas have it in them to win.”
The idea for the game came from an East Coast league, Rowat says, noting he jumped at the chance to bring it to Ottawa.
“One of our coordinators had mentioned it and we just sort of took it on. It’s a fun thing to do in conjunction with the Capital Pride health and wellness day. And it shows that we don’t take ourselves too seriously,” he says.
The first pitch will be thrown out at 1pm.
“We hope for a great turnout with generous givers,” Dagenais says. “We encourage the pup community, the bear community and the trans community to come out and have a blast.”
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