Over the Line World Championship draws thousands to San Diego beach

Beach, bats, balls and booze — the four essential elements of Over the Line, a uniquely San Diego sport.

What's happening: The 2023 Over the Line World Championship, sponsored by the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club, drew roughly 15,000 people to Fiesta Island over two weekends.

• More than 700 teams competed at the 70th annual party disguised as a tournament. Team names are filled with pop culture references, political humor and sexual innuendo.

Details: The game resembles drunken Wiffle Ball in a way.

• The "field" is triangle-shaped area attached to a rectangle-shaped area drawn in the sand.
• A batter stands at the top of the triangle and swings at a ball tossed by a teammate kneeling beside them.
• Hit the ball over "the line" where the triangle and rectangle connect without the three opposing teams' field players catching it.
• There are imaginary bases for ghost runners, which is how scores or runs are tallied.

Of note: The event is written into the city's municipal code as one of the few summer events allowed at public parks and beaches.

The bottom line: The longevity of the game is a big part of what makes it so special. Plus, it's the only real summer beach party you can (legally) have in San Diego with alcohol.