By Rob Potter
COCHECTON CENTER — September 22, 2006 – Several local softball teams spent last weekend helping to raise money for a local man who is battling cancer.
Proceeds from the two-day tournament that was held at Heinle’s Softball Field will benefit Michael Swendsen of Abrahamsville, Pa.
Earlier this year, Swendsen, who works as a self-employed carpenter, was informed by doctors that he had brain tumors.
After undergoing surgery, Swendsen was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Since Swendsen began his chemotherapy treatments, he has been unable to work.
The seven teams in the double-elimination tourney – American Electric, LLC of Lake Huntington; Davis Excavating of Tyler Hill, Pa.,; MMM Waste Removal of Beach Lake, Pa.; Lake Huntington Service Center; Mike Davis Construction of Honesdale, Pa.; Ronny’s Ringers of Damascus, Pa. and Todd Canfield Construction of Honesdale, Pa. – began playing early Saturday morning, continued throughout the day and competed again from Sunday morning until Sunday evening.
When all the games had been played, Davis Excavating captured the first place trophy.
But the team needed an extra inning to win the title.
After going undefeated to stay in the winner’s bracket, Davis Excavating played American Electric in the championship game on Sunday afternoon.
But American Electric, which defeated Ronny’s Ringers, 11-7, in the loser’s bracket final, came out with a strong offensive performance against Davis Excavating.
American Electric scored six runs in the fourth inning to break open a close game. The team went on to post a 16-6 victory over Davis Excavating in the contest, which ended after six innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.
As a result, Davis Excavating was saddled with its first loss of the weekend and a second, and deciding, title game needed to be played.
The final game was packed with exciting plays and lead changes. After seven regulation innings, the score was knotted at 10-10.
In the top of the eighth, Davis Excavating scored twice. Micah Wilcox crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Mike Cole and Andy Dutton scored on an infield hit by Josh Smith.
Pitcher Jim Davis then set down the American Electric batters in order in the bottom of the eighth to seal his team’s 12-10 title-clinching victory.
American Electric was faced with a 10-7 deficit heading into the bottom of the seventh, but scored three times in the frame to force the extra inning. Evan Kraack had an RBI single and Jay Henry ripped a two-run double as American Electric made it a 10-10 contest.
Following the game, the first, second and third place trophies were presented to Davis Excavating, American Electric and Ronny’s Ringers, respectively.
Jim Davis, proprietor of Davis Excavating and one of the team’s pitchers, was presented the Most Valuable Player trophy by Ron Canfield, who was one of the tournament organizers. Davis posted a perfect 4-0 record during the event.
“I give the American Electric team a lot of credit,” said Wilcox, who serves as a player/coach for Davis Excavating, along with Mike Cole and Jim Davis. “They made it tough for us to win it.”
Ron Canfield, who organized the tournament along with his wife, Martha, and Kim Diehl-Modrovsky, said the event raised approximately $6,500 for Swendsen.