Slugging It Out For Good
Carey Legvold keeps his eye on the ball during this weekends ‘Snowball Fight For Mindi’
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The winds of December filled the air around the PAC in Oskaloosa, but inside the bats were heating up.
The 2012 2nd Annual Mid-Winter Men’s Slow Pitch Softball Tournament had 17 teams battling it out for the title.
In his second year of promoting the event, Carey Legvold and his wife Amy work many hours preparing for the competitors arrival in Oskaloosa. Shirts have to be designed and ordered, sponsors found, and teams to get signed up; this year, 17 in all. Each team pays an entry fee, up to $200.00, for the opportunity to play some softball in the middle of winter.
When I asked Amy Legvold how this indoor tournament came to be, she pointed at her husband Carey, who last year approached William Penn about the possibility of putting on a winter softball tournament. So, last year the initial tournament was put together in around 2 weeks time. There is one other similar tournament held in Sioux City called ‘Battle of the Dome’. Teams attending this weekends tournament have also played in Sioux City’s tournament and, according to Legvold, they say the facility is ten times better here in Oskaloosa.
As one might imagine, they don’t use a traditional softball to play indoor softball, instead using a FlexiBall Softball that is specifically designed for practice, drills and indoor use, and is softer than a traditional softball.
Teams took to the field for the first time on Thursday night, with the tournament ending on Sunday.
Each year now, Legvold and his wife put this effort towards a goal, that of helping someone else in their time of need. Last year, they presented a $650.00 check to Mahaska Health Partnership Hospice to help with uninsured and under-insured patients. This year was no different. Mindi Jo Flanagan Newell was the reason for this years tournament, and helping her in her fight against cancer.
When the games all ended, $1300.00 had been raised. The local boys came in 5th this year, while a team from Waterloo walked away with the big trophy and their cash back from the entry fees.
