Girls softball tourney focuses on fun, service

The chance to play softball against new teams is always enticing. But even the allure of new competition is overshadowed by the reason these teams have gathered at the Cottonwood Complex.

"It's fun to see some big schools," said Grand head coach Stephanie Cluff after her team finished 3-1 Friday in the Swing-for-Life Tournament. "But these girls really love Saturday even more than today. ... It's kind of like let's play and then let loose and have fun tonight."

The tournament featured 16 teams, from 4A's Sky View to 1A's Duchesne. For some, it was a first-time experience, while others have played in the tournament every year. All the teams that played in Friday's round-robin tournament are participating in today's Swing-for-Life Hit-a-thon, which raises money for breast cancer research at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. The events were started seven years ago by Rowland Hall softball coach Kathy Howa, whose team was playing in the tournament and then hosting 14 of the schools at a gigantic sleep-over at Rowland Hall on Friday night.

"The tournament is going so well," said Howa. "It's the best year so far. We were worried about the weather, but it turned out to be perfect. Not too cold, not too hot."

Texas Roadhouse and Jamba Juice sold food to fans and then turned around and donated all of the proceeds to Swing-for-Life.

"It's been a great day," Howa said. "Some of the teams are getting so into it. They ordered pink gear at the first of the year and they're wearing it today. They are just having so much fun."

One of those teams was Grand. Senior catcher Lauren White said the team decided as a group that they wanted to order their own pink shirts to wear during the tournament. They had "Fight like a girl" on the back of the jerseys and their numbers on the front.

"It's fun to do this," said White. "My grandma had breast cancer. She's been cancer-free for two or three years now."

White had a nice day on the softball diamond as well with two triples, a double and a home run against Duchesne. She earned six RBIs in the team's 12-1 win over the Eagles.

"The feel of this tournament is different," White said. "It's competitive, but it's not as uptight as others. It's fun, too, to stay at Rowland Hall."

In addition to dinner, the girls would be hearing from doctors from the Huntsman Cancer Institute, as well as delivering toys to Primary Children's Medical Center.