Gear up softball fans. If you're in a giving mood this weekend, and want to play a quick game, head to Gann Academy Sunday afternoon, when the Waltham Chapter of Business Networking International Accelerators will host its first softball tournament.
The tournament will begin at 12:45 p.m. when four teams will be selected from a hat to start things off. A new game will take place every hour and a half on the Gann athletic fields, with consolation game for the losing teams to take place at 4 p.m. before the championship game at 5.
Stephen Brown, BNI Accelerators president, said the idea for the tournament came about after a conference for local teenagers and families at Gann Academy last month to teach them the importance of networking.
Brown said the tournament is meant to thank Cory Cameron, a graduate of the Ron Burton Training Village in Hubbardston, who spoke at the conference, and to benefit the facility, which helps boys ages 11 through 17 achieve spiritual, physical and educational growth.
"We're doing it in appreciation for (Cory) Cameron in coming out and talking to us, and we were very touched by the work he had done and received at the Ron Burton training facility, so we just thought this was a wonderful thing to do," Brown said yesterday. "We know a lot of people between us, we just thought it would be a nice thing to do for the Ron Burton facility, as well as Cory."
Brown said the base fundraising goal for the tournament is $1,200, with a potential matching donation of $500 from BNI, but more donations are welcome, and spectators of the tournament can donate money in support of one or more players if they score a single, double, triple, home run or grand slam, and even for a player who wears a goofy outfit. Supporters can also donate up to $100 toward a team for winning the tournament.
Brown said while each team is expected to have at least 15 players per team, which will include representatives from BNI's Waltham and Braintree branches as well as local participants, the event is open to all who wish to play in the tournament.
"All that we ask is they contribute $20, and we'll guarantee that each team will have at least two games," Brown said. "Originally we were just going to limit this to the other BNI chapters but we decided to open it up. I think it's going to be a tremendous event."
And officials at Gann are more than welcoming of BNI for hosting the tournament on its fields.
"The BNI Accelerators is an organization of local business people all within Waltham, and Gann is excited about the opportunity to invite them to our campus, to share with them our great school and facilities, and for the participants and spectators to learn more about Gann Academy overall," said Jess Adani, Gann director of annual giving.
Adani, who said she may throw the opening pitch Sunday, said Ron Burton Jr., son of the late Ron Burton, founder of the training village and former New England Patriots' running back who died in 2003, will also be present at the tournament. Burton Jr. nor the Ron Burton Training Village could not be contacted for comment yesterday.
Matt Perkins can be reached at 781-398-8009 or at mperkins@cnc.com.
