Threat of rain might have kept a few people away, but the Shawano Youth League was able to successfully complete its first weekend of tournaments this season at Memorial Park.
The tournaments for 7-8U baseball, 10U softball and 12U softball, which began Friday and went until Sunday, drew 28 teams.
“A lot of good ball players here this weekend,” said Dustin Beyer, a tournament representative/coordinator and coach of the Shawano 7U baseball team. “We have teams from all over the place … There’s some good, competitive baseball going on this weekend.”
For Bill Laabs, coach of the Shawano Red 12U softball team, it’s a fun way for the players to learn the sport.
“The reason we hold this is for the kids to learn, to teach the game and to teach how to play as a team,” Laabs said. “They’re all doing very well. The kids love it. It’s something the parents love. They’re learning a lot.”
The Shawano Red took second in the 12U softball tournament, behind Pulaski-Red.
The Shawano 8U baseball team took first in the coach-pitch baseball tournament. Bonduel took second.
Freedom won the 10U softball tournament.
“It’s great for the kids to play on their home diamond in front of their friends and relatives, and everyone they know can come down and watch,” Beyer said. “There’s a lot of people in from all over the place, but a lot of fans from Shawano come down to watch some Little League baseball, which is great for the community.”
Besides generating revenue for local restaurants and hotels, the tournaments serve as the Shawano Youth League’s primary fundraiser. Profits from concession sales are funneled back into the program to provide for equipment, uniforms and maintaining the facilities.
“All of it goes right back into the program,” said Karen Rusch, who was helping coordinate the concessions Saturday.
Rusch said around 50 volunteers, with a core group of about 20, organize and run the tournaments.
“You get enough people and enough help, and it goes pretty smoothly, like it has this weekend,” Beyer said. “We have two more weekends left to go.”
The 11U and 12U baseball tournaments will begin Friday and run through Sunday. The 9U and 10U baseball tournaments will be held July 25-27.
Categories
