Everyone’s a winner in softball game
Well, by now I’m sure everyone has heard that our Herald-Standard softball team came out on the short end of the Eighth Annual Relay for Life Softball Challenge last Sunday with the Fayette County commissioners. Well, by now I’m sure everyone has heard that our Herald-Standard softball team came out on the short end of the Eighth Annual Relay for Life Softball Challenge last Sunday with the Fayette County commissioners.
Sad to say, but the county team led by Fayette County Commissioner Vince Vicites had their hitting shoes on and pretty much clubbed us into submission.
The series is now tied 4-4, and I guarantee you we’ll come better and stronger next year.
In the end, though, there are no real losers in this game. Everyone comes out a winner, especially cancer victims and their families.
Overall, the real goal of the game is to help the American Cancer Society raise funds to help cancer victims and to fund research into finding a cure for this dreaded disease.
So far, we’ve raised about $5,000 for the ACS through the softball game. That’s pretty amazing when you think about it. What’s even more amazing is the $180,000 that will be raised through the ACS’s Relay for Life event, which will be held Aug. 9-10 at Laurel Highlands High School.
All the teams involved in the event have been holding all sorts of fundraising events throughout the year. This softball game is just one of many, many Relay for Life events.
Instead of waiting for someone to write them a big check, the Relay for Life teams have been out, working hard to raise funds on their own through an incredible variety of ways.
What’s just as amazing is the way the community has taken to supporting our softball game.
People have stepped up in also sorts of ways to help make the game what it is today.
And I’d like to take the rest of the column to thank everyone involved.
n Herald-Standard Publisher Val Laub. Val encouraged me to take over as captain of the Herald-Standard’s Relay for Life and has been very supportive of all our fundraising efforts, including the softball game.
n Vince Vicites has provided not just opposition but sprited competition, which has brought out the best in both teams. But Vince realizes the larger goal of the game and is very supportive of our fundraising efforts.
n The players involved. While there are some very good softball players on both teams, for many of the players it’s their only softball game of the year. It takes a special person to come out and not be afraid of being embarrassed. Players on the county team included Eddie Adams, Ron Dellarose, A.J. Gasparatz, Jim Grimm, state Sen. Richard Kasunic, Randy Kopich, Dave Madison, Joe Shimko, Todd Torey, Leroy Townsend and Josh Palmer. Players on the Herald-Standard team included Sean Conley, Chuck Durso, Wes Ellis, Bobby Fox, Ryan Geary, Holly Hildreth, Myron Hoskins, Mark Klink, Clay Krysak, Josh Krysak, Tom Krysak and Phil Sperry.
n ASA umpires Mike Miskanin, Mike Giachetti and the Rev. Paul Payerchin for donating their services. All it takes is one phone call to Mike Miskanin and the umps are there like clockwork.
n Wave Systems (Kingfish) for providing the sound system. Kingfish has been doing this since the first game at no charge.
n Mark Rafail, our public address announcer. Mark took over for the late Ron Nehls several years ago and he’s done a great job of entertaining those attending and playing in the game with his humorous and sarcastic comments, reminding us at all times that it’s just a game and we should all be having fun.
n Karen Tweardy, who takes time out from her busy duties at the Herald-Standard, to make up the program for the game.
n Our program sponsors including Joe Baird, Rob Burchianti, Ed & Sue Cope, Ryan Geary, the girls from the Prothonontary’s office, HFS Trucking, Maureen Hranec, Val Laub, Craig Laub, Vaughn Laub, Carol Laub, Recorder of Deeds Dave Malosky, Ashley O’Keefe, Bryan O’Keefe, Linda O’Keefe, Pete Skirchak, Tweardy, Vicites, the Warman Family, Kathy, Dave, Jeremy & Noelle Winkler and Commissioner Vince Zapotosky.
n Jerry Quinn, head of the Uniontown Parks and Recreation Department, for working hard in getting the field at Bailey Park ready for the game. Thanks also to Myra Crenshaw and Kelly Lloyd for working the concession stand at the game.
n Thanks to Gloria Calabro, Roberta Stillman and her husband Ken, Lori Goodwin, Ed Cope, Joe Baird, Robert Esquivel, Sushila Warman and my wife, Linda, for doing all sorts of things from taking donations to selling programs and chances on various prizes.
n Carr’s Trophies & Plaques for donating beautiful trophies to both the winning and losing teams. Dick Carr has been making the generous donation since the game started in honor of his son the late Richard (Ricky) Carr, who died of cancer.
n Of course, there are many other people who have helped in all sorts of ways over the years. Space doesn’t permit me to begin including everyone who has done something to make the game what it is today. I just wanted to let everyone know of some of the people involved behind the scenes in making the game happen. And I’m sure that in years to come we’ll have even more people step forward to continue making this game better.
Mark O’Keefe is the executive editor of the Herald-Standard. O’Keefe can be reached by e-mail at mo’keefe@heraldstandard.com, by phone at 724-439-7569 or by regular mail at 8-18 Church St., Uniontown, Pa., 15401.