Wacky Blog

5th Annual Wacky Warriors Charity Softball Tournament

Congratulations to all 41 teams that came out to play and have fun at this year’s charity softball tournament!  Here are the results:

16u – 1st place-Bukoos, 2nd Stratus
14u – 1st place-Diamonds, 2nd Strikers
12u – 1st place-Elite – 2nd Toxic
10u – 1st place-Hive – 2nd Attack

Skills Contest Winners:

Pitching/Catching –
16u – Andy, Bukoos – pitching/ Kylie, Bukoos – catching
14u – Taylor, Bad to the Bone – pitching
Sami, Legacy- Theresa, Rage- Avery, Strikers- Caitlyn, Avalanche- Alexi, Bullets (5 way tie for catching)
12u – Taylor & Ashlee, both from Attitude, tied for pitching/ no winners for catching
10u – Hannah, Attack and Natalie, Hive tied for pitching/ Alana, Trouble – catching

Base Running –
16u – Emily & Maddy, Bukoos
14u – Morgan & Ellie, Strikers
12u – Kaselyn & Kihley, Carbon Dirt Devils
10u – Mary & Gracie, Trouble

Round the Horn –
16u – Bukoos
14u – Diamonds
12u – Thunder
10u – Utah Hive

Home Run Hitting –
16u – Emily, Provo Dawgs
14u – Breah, Legacy
12u – Huntyr, Hot Shotz
10u – Joseie, Utah Boom

“Those that say, ‘It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.’ have obviously never played the game.”  How true in softball!

Lee and I left Friday morning for the fields feeling completely organized and ready to go, regardless of having one team withdraw late the night before.  I was still feeling a tremendous amount of regret for a team that is dear to my heart;  I had inadvertently left their name off my roster, which left them unable to play in our tournament this year.  My sincere apologies still sound pathetically inadequate. But here we go…

As usual in a tournament this size, there were the normal field issues with measurements, pitching rubber mats, grumbling about the pool play drop dead time limit, confusion as how to assign seedings for bracket play, inconsistent communication with umpires about bracket play rules, game assignments recorded incorrectly – causing play to continue well past 11:00 pm and my personal favorite, the lights automatically turning off at 11:00 leaving about 100 of us stranded in the darkness until lights could be re-started.  Other than the field issues, the rest are direct results of my mistakes.  I sobbed all the way home Friday night (er, make that Saturday morning…)  Boo, I was missing Nick.

A few hours later as Lee and I were recording the winners for the skills contest, he reminded me that Saturday at the fields is the good day.  Sniff… ok.  Although off to a rough start, he was right.

My perspective is so different in that I am dumbfounded by the intensity of a parent or coach incensed by a rule interpretation.  I wanted to tell them to go take their team up to Primary Children’s Hospital for a whole day – play games, read books, color, watch a movie, etc. all with children battling cancer (or any other life threatening condition).  Then come and tell me all about the bad call they got.  But I didn’t.  What I did do when someone would ask me if I was Lori, was to respond, “Are you angry?”  If they smiled and said no, I said “Yes, I’m Lori!” and if they didn’t, I said “Hmm, haven’t seen her around lately, not sure where she is…”

We had a special visit from Brinley Torres and her mom, Kristin.  Brinley is a beautiful little girl who has conquered her battle with cancer.  She assisted us in helping to hand out tee shirts, giving us a visible, tangible reminder of what this tournament is all about.  You can read about her journey at www.sweetbrinley.com


softball2012 2.jpg

Even though a few coaches and parents gave me pause to wonder where the integrity of the human spirit has gone, Lee’s departing words to a few of the teams were, “Although you may have had some calls tonight that you didn’t like and feel that it was unfair, what you really don’t want is the phone call from an oncologist telling you your child has cancer.”   I realize this is an official ASA tournament, the real deal.  I have myself, been so angry with a game that I want to climb the backstop and have a full-on tantrum.  I’ve had to apologize to those within hearing distance for a slip of profanity.  But what do I want my daughter to see?


softball2012 3.jpg

The softball girls totally get this tournament.  They took time to read many of the posters displayed around the ball fields of our own local cancer cutie pies.  They were so excited to wear their newly designed uniforms in WACKY fashion.  They loved bullying their coaches into wearing tutu’s for both days of competition.  They applauded loudly to learn that because of their attendance, WACKY would be donating $1,000 to a young man (employed by the city of South Jordan Parks & Rec) currently getting treatment for brain cancer.  They giggled uncontrollably when trying to hit the bullseye to dunk their coach into the dunking booth, which soon turned into outrageous cheers when succeeding.  They displayed amazing sportsmanship and camaraderie when taking the combined pictures for 1st and 2nd place winners.  They endured mental fatigue and physical weariness after playing five consecutive games in one day.  They acknowledged that wearing their WACKY shirt means they are making a difference in fighting cancer for children and young adults.

As well, the majority of the umpires, coaches and parents get it, too.  Every single one I talked to knew of someone close to them that had experienced cancer.  Umpires donated games, wore their WACKY pins proudly and some gave up the opportunity to work other athletic sporting events that weekend.  Parents gave permission to have their girls leave school early (we will try to avoid that next year), took time off from work and gave their daughters the opportunity to learn of compassion and community involvement.  Coaches combined the virtues of integrity with athletic skill and team competition.  They all showed the players that they can be fun, silly and willing to help a child in need. Bottom line is the players could not have even showed up to play had it not been for the support and guidance of their coaches and parents.

They are all my true Wacky Warriors and I’m proud of every single one of them!


softball2012 4.jpg

A big, fat thank you to all of our volunteers!!!!  You all represented Nick and WACKY with kindness, grace and humor.  You endured pure chaos without any reward, soley because you are our amazing friends.  Together we are making a commitment to make next year’s better!   Thank you to Sound Warehouse in being our very first corporate sponsor! To Kolby Kemp in representing the ASA with unlimited and sincere support.  To Dave Word and South Jordan Parks & Rec (especially Matt & Jordan who ran their tails off) for willingness to help us have a successful tournament.  To the concession stands for providing great food, drinks and for the generous donation to WACKY.

And to the parents and coaches – thank you for your patience as we continue to learn the intricacies in running a tournament.  Please know we are trying the very best we can!  I will be posting amounts donated to various charities at the end of the month once I have all the pledge money in and recorded.  We about break even in hosting the tournament but the donations are what we pay forward!  To clarify, WACKY does not make a profit.

Recent Posts