2023 Over-the-Line World Championships return to Fiesta Island

The sport was invented on South Mission Beach and since 1954, continues to be synonymous with San Diego’s summertime culture.

SD Over-the-Line OTL championships

OTL is just so, so San Diego.

Photo via Duane Bazzel + @ombacsd

OTL. If you’re a San Diegan, you know those three little letters stand for Over-The-Line, the ball and bat sport invented on South Mission Beach in the 1950s that spawned the annual Over-The-Line World Championships.

The Old Mission Beach Athletic Club (OMBAC) hosts the tournament at Fiesta Island Park. This year, it runs on Saturday, July 15 + Sunday, July 16, and Saturday, July 22 + Sunday, July 23. Game play starts daily at 7:30 a.m., with men’s and women’s divisions competing until sunset.

Spectators are encouraged to watch for free; there’s a paid parking option if you want to secure a designated spot.

So, what is OTL? Though the sport has its intricacies, the basic rules are clear: games last three or four innings, no one runs bases, and the main goal is to hit the ball “over the line,” ~55-ft in front of the batter.

More from SDtoday