CARLSBAD – Even in the cool November air, with the 2015 World Series already in the books, Bob Forrest Youth Sports Complex preserved the spirit of baseball with a one-and-one regional tournament all day Saturday.

“I’m really excited. I’m glad to get some practice in. We’ve been practicing on this field, and we’re used to this field,” Carlsbad Chump Change left fielder Cowboy Vargas said.

More than a dozen teams from Carlsbad, Artesia and Roswell went head-to-head on the multiple diamonds.

“The concept here’s a little different,” said tournament director Alan Edmonson, also Goddard’s head baseball coach.

Edmonson said every hitter starts with a 1-1 count when they’re up to bat. Edmonson said that approach accomplishes two things: Players pitch less and throw less.

“It speeds up the game. Kids are more aggressive swinging the bat a little more, so there’s a lot more action involved. You actually get more baseball in the amount of time that you typically do,” Edmonson said. “With a facility like this, I could sit here and watch baseball all day long. It’s awesome to see the kids enjoy it.”

In other words, teams cram in full seven-inning games within 90 minutes.

Although they couldn’t make it, Edmonson said teams from the Odessa-Midland area took interest in the tournament.

Saturday’s tournament, featuring players ages 9-12, is the latest in a series of games during October, November and December and is part of a year-round league.

“We’ve had a great baseball season so far. Started with league play, then we had the All-Star tournaments, State tournaments, then we went to fall ball. Now here we are in November, and we’re still playing baseball,” said John Lowe, the sports complex superintendent.

“Youth baseball is year-round operation,” he said. “We’re happy to have a piece of it, we’re happy to have these kids in our community still have the ability to play baseball in November. It don’t matter if it’s 100 degrees or it’s 45 degrees, these kids love to be out on these baseball fields.”

Edmonson said it was a no-brainer to hold the tournament at Bob Forrest Youth Sports Complex because of how “baseball-savvy” Carlsbad is.

“Mother Nature’s cooperating with us, the weather out here is phenomenal,” Edmonson said. “Ultimately, every one of these kids is out here playing because they love the game. It’s win-win for everybody.”

Vargas said it’s good to be back on the field in uniform, even though it’s already November.

“I just like it because I don’t like being lazy,” Vargas said, adding it’s also good to not travel for this type of tournament.

Saturday’s games went until about 9 p.m.

Tournament action will continue at 10 a.m. Sunday and go until about 4 p.m.

Current-Argus Sports Editor Matt Hollinshead may be reached at 575-628-5518.