Softballers getting fully loaded for charity

Mount Gambier Softball League holding a special event for cancer awareness

It started as a way to honour a past player from the Warriors Softball Club who lost her battle with breast cancer and by the time Warriors player Mel Chuck had finished with the idea, it had become an All Star event, incorporating players from across the league.

Aside from honouring all local softballers who have lost their cancer battle, it is now a fundraising event and an opportunity to promote an adapted version of softball – Fully Loaded.

“Our club began talking with Lorraine Musgrove who is the chairperson of the Mount Gambier Cancer Support Group and from this we decided to dedicate a fundraiser to raising monies for such a worthy local charity,” Mel said and Lorraine and her group perfectly fit the bill.

The Mount Gambier Cancer Support Group was established in 1980 with the goal to support individuals and families suffering from cancer. It provides support in the form of assisting with medical expenses, travel and accommodation expenses for treatment, food vouchers, providing emotional support and information to cancer patients and their families as needed. The initial concept was to dedicate a round of this softball season to cancer awareness and with the support of the Mount Gambier Softball League, the All Star Fully Loaded Softball event was borne.

“The executive committee of the league loved the idea of supporting such an important group to our community and the idea of the All Star Fully Loaded Softball event,” Mel said. “The support I have received by all the clubs for this event has been amazing. For the match, we have divided 22 All Star Players who have been individually handpicked by their clubs to represent our league in the event.”

Fully Loaded is a relatively new form of softball that has been mainly promoted at the elite level and was one form of the game where former Mount Gambier softballer Georgia Hood was able to attract the attention of national selectors.

“This match is unlike any other softball match – the game starts with bases loaded with runners, the fencing is brought in and with our star studded squad it is a hit parade of homeruns, base stealing and impressive defensive plays,” Mel said. “As all softball games the winner is decided by the team with the most runs at the end of the game.”

The game is this Friday night from 6pm and there is a raffle running with tickets available on the night and while it is all about cancer awareness, it is a rare change for the league to showcase its sort and is players.

“This event has all of us at the Mount Gambier Softball League excited to promote such an important local support group and showcase our talented players,” Mel said. “Players involved in both squads have represented the Lower South East in the South Australia State Championships in premiership sides over many years.”

Local businesses have also thrown their support behind the Fully Loaded All Stars event and along with the raffle there will be other fundraising opportunities on the night, including a BBQ and the canteen preparing our special of the night, fully loaded fries.

ALL STAR TEAM B

TEAM A (Coach: Nat Anderson)
Maddie Bowd
Cindy Burford
Erin Chaplin
Lily Clifford-Finch
Kylie Doll
Codie Jackway
Abbie Lovekin
Leonie McCallum
Sarah Nieuwenhuizen
Sarah Polderman
Ange Queale

ALL STAR TEAM B
Coaches: (Hannah Taylor & Dana Jones)
Samantha Brown
Clare Chaplin
Keiza Feast
Fiona Finch
Em Hart
Billie Jones
Dana Jones
Charli Kaigg
Madelyn Sutherland
Hannah Taylor
Bec White

Raffle Prizes:
1. The Barn, One Night Stay in the Presidential Suite
2. Hollick Estate Tannery Block Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 1.5L
3. Chelsea Feast Makeup Artist $100 voucher
4. Rymill Estate 2019 MC2 Cabernet Franc and 2021 Rose
5. Arena Sports Store $75 voucher
6. Collins Court Butchers $50 Meat Tray
7. Emmsee Sportswear $50 voucher
8. Mardi Chuck Body Shop Consultant Hamper valued at $50
9. Intersport Mount Gambier $40 voucher
10. Canopy Interior Accessories
11. South Eastern Hotel $30 voucher
12. DJ Interiors Beach Bag
13. Royal Copenhagen $20 voucher
14. Lima and Co, Jigsaw Puzzle