Sports glory up for grabs at Fourth Celebration

There will be plenty of opportunity for local athletes and competitors to earn glory, bragging rights, and actual prizes as the 2024 Blanding Fourth of July Celebration kicks off on Wednesday, July 3.
The youngsters will kick off the event in the annual Jason Workman Mini-Madness Softball Tournament starting at 9 a.m. This fun event will feature a total of 16 teams split into a division of players in sixth to eighth grade and a division with players in third to fifth grade.
The Shane Warenski Memorial Midnight Madness Softball Tournament kicks off at 4:30 p.m. and runs all night long until a champion is crowned, typically early Thursday morning. And for the first time in seven years a new Midnight Madness champion will be crowned.
Ten-time champion Diamond C Fuels has elected to take the year off after winning their seventh-straight title last year. The tournament will feature 25 teams all vying for early-morning glory and should provide some exciting entertainment.
At the same time the softball tourney’s finishing up the San Juan High School cross country team will present the Firecracker 5K. It begins Thursday, July 4 at 6:30 a.m. with the start and finish at Centennial Park.
The 1-mile fun run also begins and ends at Centennial park, with that start time set for 7:15 a.m. Contact race director Holly Walker at hollykwalker@hotmail.com for information on these two events and register online at runnercard.com.
Thursday at noon it’s the third annual Toadhead Races on the southeast field. This event will feature traditional foot races for all ages and a chance to win a popsicle and other prizes in every race.
Horseshoes are back in the Fourth of July Celebration and better than ever! The new-look horseshoe tournament gets underway at 1 p.m. next to the tennis courts. Visit blanding-ut.gov/4th to sign up.
Sports competitions will culminate on Friday, July 5 with the indoor 6-on-6 volleyball tournament in the Wellness Center gymnasium. It’s sponsored by the San Juan High School volleyball team and will feature around 15 teams. Cost is $200 per team; text 435-459-2090 to get signed up.