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Over-The-Line Tournament Kicks Off

The 60th annual World Championship Over-the-Line Tournament will get under way today with more than 1,300 three-person teams playing a modified version of softball over two weekends.

Event organizers expect up to 55,000 spectators around the 50 Over-the-Line courts in the sand on Fiesta Island during the four tournament days. Games in each of the 10 divisions will last three or four innings, and the primary objective is to hit the ball over a line about 55 feet away.

The event is known for beer drinking and "colorful'' team names. A lawsuit filed last month by FreePB.org threatened this year's event. The group opposes the city's ban on alcohol on city-run beaches and sued the city, alleging it was playing favorites with permits.

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The organization, which has held previous events with alcohol at Mission Bay, had been unable to obtain city permits.

Mayor Bob Filner signed a park-use permit for the Over-the-Line's host, the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club, on June 27, but said it was conditional because a court could place restrictions on the tournament.

During the double-elimination tournament's first weekend, members of the military and first responders will be saluted, according to event officials.