The 11th Annual Winter Co-Ed Softball Tournament was another success for the Bresette family! The weekend long tournament played on March 6, 7, & 8 had 61 teams playing in a double game elimination tourney. The wet snow and mud did not spoil the fun at the Barre Town recreation fields. Cass Bresette, his family, and his new co-planner Cory Touchette and his wife Heather, kicked things off on Friday night with games starting at 6:00 p.m. and playing into the early morning on Saturday. With six fields playing through out the day and 3 fields at night, the tournament was able to create some fun for softball players from New England and , while at the same time helping two families.
The spirit of the tournament over the past 11 years has been the call to help families that are suffering from life threatening illnesses. This year’s tournament was held for 2 families, 9 yr old Emma McGeorge who has non-hodgkin lymphoma and 15 yr old Austin Joslin who has stage 4 non-hodgkin lymphoma. The weekend tournament, a dinner dance, and private donations totaled $25,000, with 100% of the proceeds going back to the McGeorge’s and the Joslin’s to help with expenses that their insurance does not cover.
This year’s tournament also brought with it an attempt to set a worlds record for the largest softball tournament to be played in the snow. Cass and Corey contacted the Genius Book of World Records, and arranged the necessary documentation in the hope to successfully enter this great cause into the books!
The final championship game was played on Sunday afternoon between Shaker Valley Auto from West Lebenon, NH and Yipes/Johnson Construction, with taking the first place trophy. Both teams played hard and had fun slipping and sliding through the melting snow on the field. Last years champion, Capital Candy took third.
The Bresette’s and the Touchette’s would like to thank everyone that helped make the tournament a success, and to all the teams and sponsors for their generosity. “We look forward to working with you next year!”
BROOKFIELD - Joseph Merle Bott, 21, passed away unexpectedly on March 10, 2009. Joey was born in Groton, Conn. on July 14, 1987, the son of David and Tonya (Colbeth) Bott.
For the last three years Joey has made his home in Brookfield with his parents. Joey was a very private person who enjoyed his music, paintball with friends and hanging out with family.
He leaves behind his parents, his maternal great grandmother, Merle (LaValley) Bresette, paternal grandparents, Richard and Joan Bott, Sr., his maternal grandparents, Susan (Bresette) Kelley and Steve Sayers and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Joey was predeceased by his aunts, Donna Bott and Roxanne Slayton.
There are no calling hours. Family and friends are invited to the Masonic Temple in Williamstown for a private gathering from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2009.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Joseph's memory can be made to Freezing Fun for Families, 10 Moonlight Drive, Barre, VT 05641.
Online: www.freezingfunforfamilies.com