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Kickball tournament raises funds for Alzheimer’s research

Junior Daniel Gonzalez tries to make an out at third base as Cal Poly Pomona junior Robby Gamble strides in safely at Sigma Kappa’s kickball tournament Sunday. Gonzalez and teammate Chris Gonzalez played for Phi Delta Theta’s B team, which lost to Gamble’s Phi Kappa Tau team. / Photo by Stephanie Ball
Junior Daniel Gonzalez tries to make an out at third base as Cal Poly Pomona junior Robby Gamble strides in safely at Sigma Kappa’s kickball tournament Sunday. Gonzalez and teammate Chris Gonzalez played for Phi Delta Theta’s B team, which lost to Gamble’s Phi Kappa Tau team. / photo by Stephanie Ball

Veronica Orozco
Metro Editor

Bleachers full of eager teams gathered at Wheeler Park Sunday morning in hopes of winning Sigma Kappa’s second annual kickball tournament.

Posters adorned the gates along the entryway along with a set of painted wooden letters used for team photo ops and music played ranged from new hits to nostalgic songs reminding spectators of their grade school days.

Energy was high and a sea of maroon was visible from Wheeler Avenue as the color-coordinated members take their places for the day’s events.

Winners of the tournament would not only walk away with bragging rights against the 11 other teams competing that day but also a three foot tall trophy to sit on their mantel.

“We had a lot of supporters from La Verne, Cal Poly Pomona and around the community,” said Kayla Vickers, junior kinesiology major and vice president of philanthropic services for the organization.

Each team game was 20 minutes long except for the final game, which lasted five innings.

Injuries were sparse throughout the day, ranging from a scraped knee to a split chin.

As the finals grew closer, tensions began to rise between teams resulting in heckles from wounded egos.

At the end of the six-hour tournament only two teams were left to duke it out for the top spot: Pomona Feed, a team comprised of employees from Pomona Feed store, and Team Baseball, a team comprised of La Verne baseball players.

In the end, Team Baseball won, 12-5, in five innings.

“I found out I was going to play midnight last night so it was a plus-plus to play and win,” said Tyler Watkins, junior criminology major and member of the baseball team.

“It means a lot that people came and supported the teams and the cause,” Vickers said.

Proceeds from the teams’ $40 entrance fee and all donations are put toward Alz­heimer’s research and the Sigma Kappa Foundation.

Refreshments were also for sale with all the proceeds going to a member of the organization whose house burned down.

The donation to the member was kept a secret until after the event and later revealed the donation to her.

“I had no idea, I found out after the game. I was so grateful and I wasn’t expecting it and I went through a lot but they didn’t have to do that,” sophomore broadcasting radio major Megan Keller said.

“Everybody said my face said it all, I just started crying and couldn’t stop saying thank you.”

The event raised $925, $700 of which goes to Alz­heimer’s research and the Sigma Kappa Foundation and $225 of which goes to Keller and her family.

“We really just want to thank everyone for coming out and supporting such a good cause,” said Vickers.

Veronica Orozco can be reached at veronica.orozco@laverne.edu.

Veronica Orozco, LV Life Editor
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