Andrew Oxenrider Memorial Tournament

After some deliberation and discussion, the beneficiary for 2019 has been chosen. At this time we will not be releasing the name, however that information will be available after July 1st.

We have updated the rules and information about the home run derby, including the youth bracket, so please consider participating. We will have a real photographer  (not just Becky’s cell phone) there capturing the images! Trophies are awarded to top male and female in each category. We will also be accepting donations at that time for the beneficiary.

We have made it through another spring and are creeping closer to tournament time 2019.

The shirts are in the final design phase and we really appreciate all of our sponsors! Thank you to Walter Boyer Promotional Items for helping us with the designing and printing of our shirts!

I have been contacted with quite a bit of interest, so to reserve your place don’t forget to get your fee and roster in as soon as possible. The deadline is July 1st. And this year it is VERY firm as our first fire company meeting for July is also on the 1st. That is where teams will be drawn for the bracket placement. Anyone is welcome to attend with the blind drawing taking place directly after regular meeting.

As always, we are looking for volunteers to assist throughout the weekend and week prior to the tournament. Anyone who may be able to spare some time or energy would be welcome. Prayer warriors are always welcome as well. Last year, it was only by the grace of God that the field was playable after 17 inches of rain in the week leading up to the tournament.

Feel free to contact me (Becky Wetzel) with any questions or interest.

As the time is coming closer I want to take time again to thank people.

Thank you to those who have returned sponsorship letters. We appreciate your support which not only allows us to have this tournament with all the supplies we need, but also help support our community.

Thank you to those who have helped me distribute the letters and field questions for the moments when I have brain farts!

Well everyone we have made it into 2019 and that means it is time to get on the ball for this year’s tournament! So many things were tried last year and we want to make this year the biggest and best yet.

We found that playing all 3 days of the weekend is the best, so we will be doing that again this year. While each team is guaranteed at least 2 games, meaning 2 days of play, it is not said which days will be any particular teams game day.

T-shirts seemed to be a success. We will be accepting sponsor until May 1st for this years shirt. Sponsorship is $50 for your name to appear on the back of the shirt. Pre-order is the best way to ensure you have a shirt in your size available.

Homerun derby will continue this year with the inclusion of a youth division (please see the rules and release tab for more information).  The entrance fee will again be donated, additional donations will be accepted at time of tournament.

We are always looking for people who are willing to help out, so feel free to get in touch with any of the administrative team if you are interested.

As always we thank you for your interest and participation!

I want to give you all a little sneak peak into why this tournament came about. My name is Becky and I started this tournament 6 years ago as a way to get people to the Pitman carnival and to provide cheap entertainment for them. You see I’ve grown up in and around the Fire house and the ballfield. When I was just a wee lass, back in the elementary school days, I played little league like so many others in our community. And Pitman’s teams played and practiced at the Mahantongo Elementary school in Klingerstown. No big deal but my Pappy was quite involved in ball – he played as a younger man and umped for us when we were kids. (In fact quite a few weekends, my brother, dad, him and sometimes my uncle would play kickball/wiffleball and he always was our designated pitcher.) He had a dream that we would have a field and team in Pitman again and when the ground next to the fire house became available he worked to get a field built there.

He passed away in the early 2000’s and we had a dedication service for him the summer after with my dad and uncle’s lowering the flag to half-mast and his memory lives on with a plaque at the field (see Left picture).  I know that he would be both impressed and proud of what I have been able to bring about in these last 6 years. Growing from 4 teams the first year to 7 teams in 2018.

Last year, Andrew passed away a few days before the tournament. At the fire company, many of us knew and were friends with him. We wanted to do something to honor his memory, and knowing Andrew’s connection to and love of sports we couldn’t think of anything better than renaming the tournament. This year we were fortunate enough to have a banner made and donated to our tournament (see Left picture).

This year it was clear we had angels watching over us, even after the 15-17″ of rain we had in the week prior to this year’s tournament, our field was in good shape and playable. Saturday morning, when I went to the field to prep for the upcoming games, I was greeted by the image on the right, which looks to me like an angel watching down through a break in the clouds (though photos aren’t quite the same as what the eye perceives).