Posted by Boog on August 10, 2009, 6:51 am
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Sports
Toohey: Modified teams: It’s now or never
Monday, August 10, 2009
By TERRY TOOHEY, 230terry@gmail.com
The countdown has begun.
We are 12 days from the start of the 26th annual Daily Times/Exelon Champs ’n’ Charity Classic, co-sponsored by MVP Sporting Goods of Aston, and there is still a lot of work to do.
At the top of the to-do list is whether there will be a modified division this year.
Let’s make this clear. We want a modified division. Modified teams have been part of the tournament since its inception in 1984. Two of the first three champions, the Frontier Saloon and Cheech-O’s, came out of a modified leagues, so we want to keep that tradition going.
As of Sunday, though, we have two teams, McGillicuddy’s and The Stanley Kup Inn out of the LBC Rec League, that have registered to be part of the modified division.
There are reports of at least three or four more teams, but we have not heard from them. We need at least eight teams, so all you modified players spread the word and let’s keep the modified bracket going.
The registration deadline for all divisions is 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14. Registration can be done by phone (610-622-8881) or e-mail (230terry@gmail.com).
We prefer e-mail. That way we have a physical record of your registration. Make sure to include the team name, league affiliation and a contact person.
The team must be from a league that is registered with the Daily Times. That means no all-star teams and no teams from leagues outside of Delaware County.
The roster limit is 20 players and all players must be playoff eligible to participate in the tournament. Teams are allowed to pick up as many as three players to fill out a roster. Those players must be from registered teams that are not in the tournament.
If a player is on the roster of another team in the tournament, he or she is not eligible as a pick-up player.
The fee for all teams, champion and charity entry, is $200. All checks and money orders should be made out to the American Cancer Society.
That brings us to the most important aspect of the tournament, the fundraising efforts. That’s the purpose of the Champs ’n’ Charity Classic.
Contrary to popular belief, we don’t care which team wins. Really, we don’t. All that matters is how much money we can raise in the fight against cancer.
Raffle tickets are on the street, but what we’re pushing is the on-line version. That’s the best way to get the message out.
Tickets are available at http://winnerscirclegoods.com. Click on the link at the top of the page and follow the instructions. We have set up a PayPal account so you can use your credit card to order tickets.
The list of prizes can also be found on the Web site.
We have the technology to make the fund-raising efforts even better so let’s use it. The on-line ticket is the best way to send the ticket to as many people as possible. Send the link to everyone in your mailbox and have him or her tell their friends.
We would like to go over the $500,000 mark this year and we need $35,000 to do it. Sure, times are tough, but I know how generous the people of Delaware County are. If you ask, they’ll come through.
I’m asking every team in the tournament to raise at least $500. With a 10-player roster, that’s $50 or 10 tickets per person. That’s not too much to ask. If we get 35 teams total, and each raises a minimum of $500, we would be halfway to what we need to reach half-a-million.
And find out if your company has matching funds for charity. That’s a great way to earn extra money and increase our fundraising efforts.
For those who want old-fashioned tickets, we have those, too, and we can get them to you. E-mail me and we will get the tickets to you.
For the teams, the organization meetings have been set.
The women’s meeting will be Sunday, Aug. 16 at the Daily Times Building. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.
The men’s organization meeting for both the slow pitch and modified divisions is Tuesday, Aug. 18 at Mickey Vernon Park in Marcus Hook. The meeting begins at 8 p.m.
Every team in the tournament must be represented.
So that’s it for now. Let’s get the ball rolling and make this the best tournament yet.
Terry Toohey is the assistant sports editor of the Daily Times. To contact him, e-mail 230terry@gmail.com.
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