One of the most important issues today facing the sport of softball is the sustainability of our game. What are we doing to help support and promote our game in a positive light?

This is about two coaches and what they are doing keep the game alive and how they are giving back. I remember meeting these two coaches at the 11th annual Stacey Soldan tournament held in Cloverdale. They were engaged in heavy conversation with pens and papers in hand. It looked like they were out to solve the world’s problems but they were only solving a scheduling issue for a 32 team softball tournament. No small feat for those in the know.

Many years ago there was a tragic event that took the life of a young lady named Stacey Soldan. Stacey had been a softball player playing out of Cloverdale for a number of years.

Every year for the last eleven years Rick Benson and Rob Upton and a multitude of volunteers have been have been organizing and hosting the Annual Stacey Soldan Memorial fastpitch tournament in Cloverdale. 

The proceeds of the tournament benefit the Surrey Memorial Hospital Children’s Health Center. Aside from the bonds of friendship that develop through competition, tall stories and jokes shared over a mid summer drink at the beer garden; these players are giving back through their participation in this tournament.

Every year teams are asked to donate new toys as part of their registration fee. Many people only associate toys and hospitals with Christmas. However, illness is not seasonal. These toys are donated to the hospital, who then distributes the toys throughout the year to sick children. The toys are a real gift to a young sick child in their care. Over the past 11 years, teams participating in this tournament have graciously donated toys for this worthy cause. These toys have brought many smiles to many young faces.

This year aside from the toys that is part of the registration fee. There will be a souvenir tee shirt celebrating the 12th annual tournament with the net proceeds being donated to the Surrey Memorial Hospital. For teams participating in the tournament an order form is enclosed in your package. If your team is not participating in the tournament and you would like to purchase a tee shirt please contact Rick directly at rickbenson@telus.net

 Come out to Cloverdale Athletic Park and support this event on June 25th to June 27th.