HUMBOLDT — Saturday’s Duck Soup Co-ed Softball Tournament at Sweatt Field was a hit.
The tournament, named after the 1933 movie starring the four Marx brothers, involved running the bases backward. Batters approached home plate with a full count, allowing them only one ball and no strikes. Right-handers swung left-handed and left-handers hit right.
“It’s just a different way to play softball, more fun,” Lori Zimmerman, Humboldt, said. “It’s less competitive.”
Competition was not the idea behind Saturday’s tournament. It was a benefit for Zimmerman’s aunt, Irene Buchanan, of Altoona.
“She lost one kidney to cancer,” Zimmerman said.
That was five years ago. Since then the cancer has spread to the other kidney and an adrenal gland; the small gland located on top of the kidney. She also has been diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, a result of the cancer treatment.
A previous effort to raise funds in Altoona failed.
“Nobody showed,” Zimmerman said of an organized kickball tournament. “Humboldt stepped up to the plate.”
Six teams, at a cost of $100 each, participated in the event which took place from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The Humboldt Parks and Recreation Department donated water and soda to be sold at the concession stand. More than a $1,000, which will help defray Buchanan’s cost of traveling to medical appointments, was raised.
Joe Arean, an employee at Ash Grove Cement, gathered friends from Pittsburg, Chanute, Buffalo and LaHarpe to support the cause.
Laurie Hegward, Humboldt, signed up and asked her son Seth to join her. When their team was still short a player, her husband Jason was flagged down as he was riding by on his motorcycle.
Buchanan, who is unable to work, is selling homemade bread in order to help make ends meet. Orders for the bread, T-shirts and koozies can be made through Buchanan’s Facebook page, Irene’s Homemade Bread.
Anyone wishing to make a monetary donation can call Zimmerman at 620-212-0976.
Duck Soup softball at Sweatt Field
