Aug 15, 2008 - 04:06:17 CDT
Three weeks ago, a few members of The Rug Rats men's softball team were having a beer after a game when the discussion turned deadly serious - to cancer.They wished there was something they could do for team sponsor Duey Johnson, whose wife was battling leukemia.Or for teammate Troy Gross, whose father was just diagnosed with lung cancer.Or Mark Kennedy, whose daughter was fighting the disease.
That's when one of the Rug Rats, Ryan Stiefel, realized there was something they could do - have a benefit softball tournament.
From that moment of inspiration came The Rug Rat Benefit Softball Tournament, scheduled for Saturday at Clem Kelley diamonds. All proceeds will go to the Bismarck Cancer Center, and the team is hoping to make it an annual event.
"We were quite overwhelmed when they told us about it,"Johnson said. "It was a pretty humbling moment.
"... But from the time they heard about it, not once did any of our team members ever question it," Johnson said. "Their minds were made up. From that minute on, it steamrolled."
It had to. It's hard to organize a softball tournament on a month's notice, even a small one, as the inaugural Rug Rat benefit will be. But the team has gotten help from the community at every turn.
The tournament has had trophies and equipment either donated or discounted. Some teams that couldn't participate have offered to donate their funds from other fundraisers.
"Everybody has been as supportive as you could possibly ask," Johnson said.
The tournament will have nine men's teams in two divisions with play starting at 9 a.m. There is no admission, although donations will be taken.
There will also be a home run derby, but with a twist. Instead of an individual competition, each team will be represented by two players.
"We thought that cancer is a realm that, when you battle, you need the support of people around you," Stiefel explained. "So we thought we should make it team-oriented."
The Rug Rats are already brainstorming ideas for next year's tourney - expanding to as many as 24 teams, adding a women's division, adding inflatable jumpers for kids.
"Once we get through this year, we'll have a better idea of what direction for this thing to grow," Johnson said.
But with everybody knowing somebody that has battled cancer, the Rug Rats are confident that it's a cause people will get behind.
Although they know it will never top 400 teams like the McQuade Softball Tournament, the Rug Rats take inspiration from the funds it has raised for charity.
"The McQuade is on its 35th year," Stiefel said. "Maybe we can do this for 10 or 15 years."
Those wishing to make a donation can do so in person or online at http:// www.bismarckcancercenter.com.
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RUG RAT wrote on Aug 19, 2008 12:20 PM:
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kautzman truckingnewsalem wrote on Aug 15, 2008 11:06 AM:
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