Last weekend, Sep 8th & 9th, the Fremont Chamber of Commerce produced the first-ever Universe Classic Wiffle Ball Tournament – and it appears to have been a smashing success! Plan to attend – and play – next year on the second weekend in September! Stay tuned to Fremocentrist.com to find details as they become available.
For 2012, over two days of competition, eleven teams played at least two games a piece on the Upper Playfields of B.F. Day, raising money for the improvements of the B.F. Day Elementary School playground.
Of the teams, three represented the Adobe Software Fremont campus – the Adobe Plastic Bat Heroes, Adobe Mayhem, and Adobe Super Set. Two teams represented the Allen Institute for Brain Science – named Gabaergic and Glutaminergic. One team represented the Saunderson Marketing Group & the Fremont Chamber. Teams also played for Sarah Ellen Photography, B.F. Day, PCC Natural Markets – Fremont, Heritage Bank, and Skanska.
For 2012, the Universe Classic Champions are Gabaergic! This win created a nice upset – all three Adobe teams contained members of the Adobe Wiffle Ball leagues, including league founder Frank Costa playing for Mayhem. Some players in these leagues have played wiffle ball for five years – and many had them as the favorites.
Taking second place, the Adobe Plastic Bat Heroes, with the Adobe Mayhem in third, and the Chamber/Saunderson Marketing team in fourth – and Chamber President Ken Saunderson’s son, Andrew Saunderson, pitching all four games his team played.
The players, the Chamber and spectators were extremely grateful for the help and dedication of the team of volunteer umpires that turned out for the Universe Classic. Thanks to:
- Scott Schorer
- Wayne Severson
- Dennis Lee Thireault
- Greg Forinash
- Bob Bringhurst
Also, a few businesses made life on the Upper Playfields a bit more palatable, particularly Pete’s Fremont Fire Pit which sold delicious BBQ as a benefit for B.F. Day, and Peet’s Coffee & Tea. Thanks also to the Seattle Department of Parks & Recreation which gave the fields and fences.
Of course, none of this could have been possible without the inspiration and leadership of Frank Costa, the dream and determination of Ken Saunderson, and the willingness of Jessica Vets, the Chamber Executive Director, to sit the field!
See you out playing ball in 2013!
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