The Wounded WarriorbrSouthlake Steering Committee is hosting, along with the City of Southlake, abrcharity softball tournament featuring the world-famous Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team (WWAST). WWAST consists of amputee soldiers who play all over thebrworld against able-bodied teams to inspire and educate others and to enhancebrthe lives of amputee soldiers. (The WWAST is not affiliated with the WoundedbrWarrior Project.)
The 2016 tourney will bebrheld at Southlake's Bob Jones Softball Park on Saturday, January 23. Thebrall-day event includes a slow pitch softball tournament featuring the WWAST andbrteams from North Texas, including local teams comprised of CISD softball andbrbaseball players, CISD teachers and coaches, and members of churches,brbusinesses, sports associations, and the Southlake Police and Fire departments.
The tournament culminatesbrwith the WWAST team playing against a team of former professional athletes,brwhich previously has included Bobby Witt, Darren Oliver, Kenny Hill, PetebrO'Brien, Jeff Russell, Jeff Frye, Kevin Mench, Jeremey Kelly, and Danny Darwin.brThe event also includes a raffle, concessions, Wounded Warrior merchandise andbra hitting contest for contestants of all ages. Previous sponsors have included thebrTexas Rangers, the 7-eleven Corporation, Chick-Fil-a, Dick's Sporting Goods,brSouthlake Kiwanis, Which-Wich, Dickey's Barbecue, Hilton Southlake Town Square,brand Pro Player Foundation. The net proceeds of the event are donated to thebrWWAST, a 501(c)(3) charity.
Event Co-Chairman, DavidbrHeintzelman, said in a press release: “This is our fourth year of hosting thesebrtalented heroes, and each year, the event grows in popularity. While I am proudbrof the financial support that we provide to this worthwhile organization, I ambrmore proud of providing our local community with the opportunity to watch andbrplay with and against these special athletes.”
Former Rangers pitcher,brBobby Witt, stated: “I am frequently invited to play in charity events, but Ibram especially honored to play in the Wounded Warrior tournament with thesebrinspiring heroes and athletes.”
The WWAST GeneralbrManager, David Van Sleet, commented that: “While we play all over the world,brthe Southlake tourney has become one of our favorite events. The Southlakebrcommunity has embraced our special brand of softball and inspiration and hasbrprovided much-needed support of our organization.”
Want to get involved?brHere's how:
Field a team to play inbrthe tourney
Volunteer to work thebrevent
Donate goods, servicesbrand money
Just come and watch
Learn more at WoundedWarriorSouthlake.com and WoundedWarriorAmputeeSoftballTeam.org.