BOWLING GREEN, Mo. — The second annual Kaleo Dade slow-pitch softball fundraiser and first annual Kaleo Dade Memorial Scholarship Cornhole tournament battled rain this past weekend, with rained out games in the works of being rescheduled for July 25th.
Games began Friday night as the tournament saw a large increase in participating teams with 25 teams competing, nearly doubling last year’s number of 14. To ensure teams weren’t playing late into the evening and in effort to leave wiggle room for unpredictable weather, games started at 6 p.m. on Friday.
“It was amazing, we started out with 28 teams, but ended up having only 25 teams play,” said tournament coordinator Tiffany Coleman-Dade.
With rain moving in on Saturday afternoon, games were cancelled, and the tournament was expected to pick up on Sunday morning. Unfortunately, field conditions were unplayable after rain on Saturday night.
“With the rain pushing us back, we were fortunate enough to have the cornhole tournament at the Pike County Fairgrounds, as the fair board graciously offered the covered small stage area to shield us from the rain,” said Coleman-Dade.
The first annual cornhole tournament was created in place of the silent auction that was held in the year prior. 19 teams participated in the yard game event headed by Matt Boehlein.
“We didn’t want to ask for donations from businesses during this trying time, we were looking to reach a group of people who maybe didn’t play softball but played cornhole” added Coleman-Dade.
The cornhole tournament was very successful and the tournament committee is looking to make the cornhole tournament its own entity, still supporting the memorial fund, just as a separate tournament.
Proceeds from the slow-pitch tournament and cornhole tournament go to the Kaleo Dade Memorial Scholarship fund that has grown within the last year. The scholarship was previously only offered to a Bowling Green High School graduate fulfilling the scholarship requirements for $1,000. The scholarship is now also being offered to an EMO Conference student for $500 and a Grant Elementary School graduate for $500.
“We want to continue to grow the scholarship fund and expand it to help as many people as we can. We have looked into some community-based projects as well. We want to give kids a good foundation in sports” said Coleman-Dade.
Many local businesses such as Crossroads General Store, Pepsi, Deters Sign Company, Sugar Shack, and many more donated items or services in effort to aide the tournament. Eric and Shannon Niemeyer donate time for the tournament to cook and provide concessions for the tournament all weekend long.
“I am so grateful for the community outreach and support these businesses don’t have to donate their time or money and they choose to do it. They are helping us keep Kaleo’s legacy alive and I am so thankful for them, they are helping shape and better the lives of kids in the community” said Dade.
Coleman-Dade mentioned that slow-pitch games will be rescheduled July 25th beginning at 8 a.m. and games will pick up where they left off. For questions or additional information call Amanda Hendricks at 573-754-2291.