Daily Times, In The Community: 'Turkey Shoot-Out' brings in a grand for sports museum

By HARRY CHAYKUN, Special to the Times

The local softball community took to fields in West Chester and at Camp Upland Thanksgiving weekend for the "Turkey Shoot-Out" and raised $1,000, which was donated to the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum in the Granite Run Mall.

Despite cold and windy conditions, the tournament ran smoothly thanks to the efforts of Kevin McDonald (Chester County player representative), the A Flight director, and Anthony SanFilippo (Delaware County player representative), the B Flight director.

In the A Flight, each team won at least one game. Benny's/Dolan's claimed the championship, with Andrew Breischaft and Mike Morrissey sharing most valuable player honors and the $175 gift package presented courtesy of the Vernon Museum.

Coach Matt O'Hara and the Blarney Stone team decided to donate its share of the prize money to the museum.

In the B Flight, High Tension from South Jersey won the championship, and Dave Mike-Mayer was named MVP.

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ASA of Pennsylvania's District 6 sanctioned more than 30 tournaments this year, and the "Turkey Shoot-Out" was one of the most competitive. In 2013, District 6 had one state champion, Ryan's Pub in Class D, while Hopson's Seal Coating (Blarney Stone) was Class C runner-up and Maggie's Irish Pub (Chickie's & Pete's) placed second in Class E.

The last tournament of the season will be the "Red Kettle One Pitch" event Saturday, Dec. 14, at Camp Upland. All proceeds will go to the Daily Times Merry Christmas Fund, which benefits the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army will have some of its bell ringers at Camp Upland and will provide Christmas Carols to entertain the players.

Entry fee is $100, and each team is guaranteed three games. The tournament will be limited to six teams. Since this is a District 6 Award Series Tournament, the winning team and runner-up will receive a Christmas bonus of 30 points each to be used for 2014 ASA of PA Advance Play.

A raffle will be held, featuring a number of prizes, including a $100 gift certificate from Bats Plus to be used toward a 2014 Miken softball bat, a $100 credit toward the entry fee of the 2014 ASA Charity Challenge Championship, which promotes Prostate Cancer Awareness and whose proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society, and a gift package valued at $175, courtesy of the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum.

For more information or to enter a team, contact ASA of PA District 6 commissioner Joe Organek at (610) 622-1154 or millpres2000@rcn.com.

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Pictured below: Jim Vankoski, left, curator of the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum, accepts a check for $1,000 for the museum from ASA of PA District 6 commissioner Joe Organek. The money was raised at the 'Turkey Shoot-Out' tournament, which was held Thanksgiving weekend.