The team name is "Fullerton," but not everyone who plays on the Fullerton men's slowpitch softball team actually lives in the tiny southeastern North Dakota community.

"Only four of the 10, 11 guys who play for us live in or around the town," said team manager Kyle Glynn, who lives on a farm west of Fullerton. "The others grew up there, but now live in Fargo, Bismarck, and other towns. It used to be there wasn't a problem getting enough people together for a team, but we're pretty small and have been for quite awhile. Fortunately, there are enough people who are willing to put in the miles to play softball. They're pretty faithful about that."

With a population of "around 80," Fullerton - located between Ellendale and Oakes in Dickey County - has the distinction of being the smallest community represented in this weekend's Men's Class D Northern Slowpitch National Championship Tournament in Bismarck. The other communities include Bismarck, Minot and Fargo in North Dakota, Sioux Falls, S.D., Lincoln, Neb., Billings, Mont., and Cedar Rapids and Waterloo in Iowa.

Being the smallest doesn't make this team feel out of place, however.

"I think we're all pretty even here," Glynn said. "Are we good enough to win some games here? We hope so. We have a good bunch of guys and it'll be interesting to see how it all turns out for us. But no matter what happens, it's a thrill just to be here and get a chance to see different teams from different parts of the country. It should be a fun weekend."

The double-elimination tournament boasts 61 teams from seven states, including 28 from North Dakota. In addition, there are 18 teams from Minnesota, nine from Iowa, two each from Montana and Wisconsin, and one apiece from Nebraska and South Dakota.

Action got under way Thursday night with 12 opening-round games at the Clem Kelley Diamonds. Play resumes this morning at 9 a.m., and will continue through Sunday.

The tournament is the first of its kind for the Fullerton team. It usually plays in the state tournament, and frequents the McQuade Tournament. It has a state title to its credit (Rec 3, 2006).

"We've done pretty well over the years," Glynn said. "Winning makes it fun and all, but a lot of the reason why we do this is because we love to play the game."

The love for softball stems from a love for baseball, Glynn said. The core of the Fullerton team played on the 1996 13-14 Babe Ruth baseball state title team.

"Most of us have been together since way before we started playing softball," Glynn said. "Like most small town kids, we started with baseball. Our town has quite a tradition. We've had good Legion and amateur teams."

Unfortunately, the centerpiece of the team won't be in Bismarck this weekend to share in the experience. Kyle Glynn's father, 67-year-old Allan, is in Avera St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen, S.D.

"He's been a player for a long time and he's the one who holds it all together," Kyle Glynn said. "It's hard not having him here. He loves this."

The winner of the tournament will advance to the National Class D Championships in Oklahoma next month.

This is the eighth national slowpitch softball tournament hosted by Bismarck. The last was the Women's Class C West Tournament in 2006.