FORT ASSINIBOINE - Labour Day Weekend in Fort Assiniboine saw the annual softball tournament hosted by Jen and Darren Wood which raised $14,500 for the Stollery Children’s hospital.
“I feel like everyone knows someone who’s had a first-hand experience at the Stollery,” said Wood.
The Wood’s daughter has cerebral palsy and other health-related challenges that requires several visits to the Stollery.
Wood explained that between 2022 and December 2023 their daughter was at the Stollery for 360 days.
The softball tournament in Fort Assiniboine has been going on since the 1980s and in 2017 the Woods turned it into a Stollery Children’s Hospital fundraiser.
In May, the Stollery Hospital honoured the Jackpine Ball Tournament with a milestone recognition plaque, which was displayed at the hospital, honouring their overall donations of over $100,000.
The ball tournament has turned into a generational family event with Grandpa, Max Wood, Darren Wood and his son, Corbin, all playing together on the Vintage team.
There were nine men’s teams and seven women’s teams that participated this year, all local groups from Fort Assiniboine, Barrhead, Swan Hills, Whitecourt and Onoway.
Each of the teams pays an entrance fee and brings something for the silent auction.
Many of the winners generously donated their prize-winning cash back to the fundraiser.
Darren’s brother, Ken Wood and his wife, Crystal, owners of Wood’s Meat Shop in Athabasca hosted a Sausage in a Bun food event that contributed to the funds being raised for the Stollery.
The teams played in a rotational schedule on the three diamonds at Walsh Park in Fort Assiniboine until the winning teams emerged.
Water Pure and Simple out of Westlock donated water set up at each diamond for the players.
There was also a home run derby Saturday night that was well-attended and a ton of fun for participants.
“Between having sponsors for all of the payouts and teams donating winnings back is huge for our end-game donation,” commented Wood.
The winners of the tournament were as follows:
Men’s A first place went to the Masterbatters who donated $400 back from winnings and second place went to the Vintage team, Darren Wood’s team, who donated all of their winnings to the charity. Men’s A first-place prize winnings were sponsored by Barts and Max and Pam Wood, with the second-place prize sponsored by Dekker Ranch.
Men’s B first place was Team 40 Proof, and second place went to the Outsiders. Men’s B first-place prize winnings were sponsored by Mahar Drilling, and the second-place prize was sponsored by Marsh Mulching.
Ladies A first place were the Cleats and Cleavage who donated $350 back to the fundraiser and second place were the Average jills, Jen Wood’s team, who donated all of their winnings. Ladies’ A first-place prize winnings were sponsored by Scotia Bank and Visser’s Welding with the second-place prize sponsored by JD Acres Bison Ranch and Infinite Tranquility.
Ladies B first place were the Swingers who donated $50 back from their winnings and second place went to the So Close team. The Ladies B teams were a mother’s team versus her daughter’s team and the daughter’s team won. Ladies’ B first place prize winnings were sponsored by Sylvia Zwarg with the second-place prize sponsored by Briane Peggy Cockell.
The ladies winner was Taopanga Kosterbok from the Swingers team.
The men’s winner was Kolby Miller from the Vintage team.
