Steamboat Pilot & Today

There wasn't a clean uniform on the field following Sunday's Cowpie Classic championship game between Aspen and the Denver Highlanders.

The grass, blood and mud stains resulted from a hard-hitting match that ended with the Aspen side on top of the 24-7 score. It was the second-straight year the mountain team has won the Steamboat tournament.

"It was another great tournament," local organizer Eric Dorris said. "We had a lot of teams and a lot of players in town."

In fact, nine sides showed up to battle for the title, including squads from Denver, Steamboat Breckenridge, Aspen and Wyoming.

The teams went head to head on Saturday. Sunday was reserved for the championship round. Aspen was first, The Highlanders came in second and the Wyoming Alumni side finished third.

Steamboat played two matches losing to the top Aspen team 50-0 and then playing a tight 19-0 match against the Breckenridge side.

"It was the best match we've played in the past several years," Dorris said of the contest against Breckenridge. "We are just trying to keep the sport going in Steamboat and trying to breathe some more life into it."

Dorris said the Aspen team was by far the best team in the tournament. Aspen fields three sides including an "A" side that won the national title last year.

This is the only tournament the Steamboat team will play this year. There just isn't enough interest to travel to tournaments or matches in other towns. In fact, many of the players in last weekend's Cowpie were picked up from other teams.

"It's normal for most of the squads that come to the Cowpie to have two or three sides," Dorris said. "We would just like to get one side together."

The Steamboat team will continue to practice at Whistler Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Dorris said the team has a core group of six players, but would like to draw more players.

Anyone interested in playing can stop by the park and find out more information about the team. Interested players also can call Dorris at 870-1858.

To reach John F. Russell call 871-4209 or e-mail jrussell@amigo.net