In late July our Junior American Legion baseball team qualified for the state tournament for the first time in our county’s history. Most sports fans, myself included, are more familiar with school-sponsored activities and tournaments, so traveling to a state tournament in the summer was a new experience for this group of young athletes.
This team has a unique make-up of Cook County athletes combined with six Silver Bay athletes. It was fun to see arch rivals form friendships together as the summer progressed. By the end of the season, a true team had formed and many parents were also now much better acquainted with one another and forming their own friendships.
When the team qualified for the state tournament, an idea was born that we should try to make this a special trip for these quality young men. A few conversations later, a fundraiser was born.
The Grand Portage Tribal Council and the American Legion Post 413 in Grand Marais quickly donated large sums of money that equaled nearly half of our fundraising goal. Another large anonymous business donation was then made followed by the Lake Superior Trading Post, North Shore Federal Credit Union, Holiday in Grand Marais, North Shore Title, Lamb’s Resort, Jeff Berquist with State Farm Insurance, Julie’s Hardware in Two Harbors, The American Legion Post 109 in Two Harbors, and Thompson Gas in Silver Bay.
I was floored with the support for this team, and then the individual donations came pouring in. Community members of past and present Randy Sjogren, Donna and Orvis Lunke, Larry Dean, David Hahn, Pat and Jennie Hennessy, Rich and Lisa Furlong, Annie Possis, George and Cheryl Humphrey, Chuck Futterer, Deb White and Doug Seim, Richard and Laurie Dorr, Bear and EvaLyn Carlson, and Mike Sjogren all contributed to help meet our fundraising goal.
Because of the generous support of our North Shore community, the team took a smaller coach bus from Grand Marais to Montevideo for the state tournament. The players enjoyed the ride in comfort and it was fun to see the positive relationships of the Silver Bay and Cook County players on the trip.
While the team lost in both of their matchups at the state tournament, they proved they belonged there with the best teams in the state. The American Legion baseball organization proved they were top notch. In addition, the Montevideo baseball club was excellent hosts. Our young men took part in a special opening ceremony where all teams lined the field together and honored the flag and anthem as well as the veterans in attendance. It was a great experience to see and one I’m sure our young men will remember.
Head Silver Bay coach Ward Wallin and head Cook County coach Arleigh Jorgenson were fun to watch coach together as faithful assistant Tim Miller was always a positive presence in the dugout.
In addition to the coach bus, our community donations paid for the lodging of our players, and all of their meals on the trip. What was especially gratifying to see, was the thankfulness the players expressed. Most all players asked who had given the money, and all were surprised when their meals were paid for.
I’ve experienced a lot of sporting events and team trips as both a coach and player. This was a very unique experience for the players, coaches, and parents who made the trip. Our North Shore community is something special. It is in these moments, where I am reminded how incredibly lucky I am to live in a place where businesses and individuals, some of which don’t know a single individual player on the team, will come together to give youth a memorable experience.
I’m also reminded that when a community comes together, great things happen.
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