28 teams in Du Quoin this weekend for the 5th Special Olympics tourney
Twenty-eight girls' traveling fast-pitch softball teams will compete at the 5th annual 2014 Southern Illinois Winter Indoor Fast-Pitch Softball Tournament on Jan. 17-19 at the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin Illinois. The tournament has raised over $191,000 in its first four years for Special Olympics Illinois Southern Area 15
Girls softball teams from across Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri will compete in the following age groups: 12 & under, 14 & under, and 16 & under. Competition will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday evening and continue through Sunday, with each team playing a minimum of three games in this double elimination tournament.
All proceeds from this year's tournament will benefit Special Olympics Illinois Southern/Area 15 allowing the program to reach and serve more athletes and continue to offer top notch programs and competitions free of charge for the over 850 Athletes competing right here in Southern Illinois. Special Olympics Illinois Southern/Area 15 serves individuals with intellectual disabilities in the following counties: Alexander, Franklin, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Perry, Pulaski, Randolph, Union and Williamson.
Opening Ceremonies for the tournament will be held on Saturday Jan. 18 at 12 noon at the S.I. Center, where all competing teams, presenting sponsors, community leaders, special guests and honorary Special Olympics athletes will be introduced and honored. Additionally, Opening Ceremonies will play host to the first game between two all-female Special Olympics softball teams in the state of Illinois. The Beverly Farms Blue Diamonds from Godfrey Illinois will play an exhibition game against the Southern Illinois Lightning Bugs from Marion. The Southern Illinois Lightning Bugs, coached by Rich Henley and tournament founder and director Bill Asbury, were the first all-female Special Olympics softball team in the State of Illinois in 2013, winning a gold medal in their division at the state competition playing against all male and co-ed teams. Fans are encouraged to come out and cheer for all teams throughout the weekend. For more tournament information please visit www.southernillinoisindoorsoftball.org.
Presenting sponsors are Knight Hawk Coal L.L.C, Ward Chrysler, Ward KIA, and Mathis & Sons, Inc. Supporting sponsors are Southern Illinois University, Banterra Bank, Alongi's, Country Financial, Lee's Sports, Plum Grove Printing, Silkworm Ink, Fenton's Custom and Collision, and Indoor Softball Inc. Media Sponsors are The Southern Illinoisan, Du Quoin Evening Call, Perry County Advantage, WDQN Radio, and WSIL TV 3.
As part of this year's tournament festivities, Caitlin Asbury and Special Olympics Illinois will be setting up R-Word Pledge Booth Friday thru Sunday, as part of the "Spread the Word to End the Word" campaign. Spread the Word to End the Word is an ongoing effort by Special Olympics, Best Buddies and supporters to build awareness in society to stop and think about its use of the word - "retard(ed)." The campaign, created by youth, is intended to engage schools, organizations and communities to rally and pledge their support and promote the inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. People are encouraged to come out and take the pledge to stop using the R-word.
Special Olympics Illinois is a not-for-profit organization offering year-round training and competition in 19 sports for more than 22,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities, allowing each athlete to reach their full potential. Special Olympics programs transform lives by empowering the athletes and promoting dignity, acceptance and respect for those with intellectual disabilities. If you are interested in learning more about Special Olympics Illinois, volunteering or providing financial support to help make Special Olympics programs possible, contact your local Special Olympics agency, call 800-394-0562 or visit the Web site at www.soill.org. Southern/Area 15, contact Area Director Paul Melzer at pmelzer@soill.org or 618-457-2969.
Teams Entered in the
2014 Tournament
12 & Under
Big Muddy Lunachicks (Linder)
Downstate Rippers 02 (Taylor)
Southern Illinois Dirt Dawgs (Campbell)
Down State Rippers 01 (Roberts)
Derby City Crush Blue (Edds)
P-Town Fastpitch (Choate)
3 | Special Olympics Illinois
14 & Under
Centralia Supersonics (Kelly)
S.I. Dirt Dawgs (Reno)
Central Illinois DiamondStorm (Rock)
Illinois Assassins (Rolla)
Illinois Esprit (Kasarda)
Southern Illinois Dirt Dawgs 99 (Dodd)
Lady Outlaws (Chaney)
St. Louis Fusion 00 (Kehlenbrink)
Swat Team (Ventura)
Southern Illinois Dirt Dawgs (Elbe)
Paducah Lady Cardinals (Pace)
SI Ravens (Homan)
16 & Under
Derby City Crush Orange (Williams)
Bluff City Sox (Anderson)
Down State Rippers 97 (Talley)
Central Illinois DiamondStorm (Dennison)
SI Dirt Dawgs (Beaupre)
Southern Force Kentucky (Peyton)
98 Black Widows (Law)
SEMO Sluggers (Sievers)
St. Louis Fusion (Fields)
O Town Strykerz