Many gather in Cobden to support cancer patient
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The community turned out last Saturday in Cobden in a strong show of support for local cancer patient Andria Chapman. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Organizers coordinated baseball and softball tournaments, a home run derby, a bake sale, raffles and a silent auction. Food also was served. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Four softball teams and three baseball teams participated in the tournaments. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Event organizer Melissa Britt posted the following information on Facebook the next day about Saturday’s successful event:</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">As we said before the weather was beautiful, but super HOT! No rain so all was well. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Andria Chapman and her entire family were there. If she could brave the heat, then the rest of us surely could! </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">We had unbelievable help yesterday and for weeks prior from Dana Pearson, LJ Hackethal and the high school baseball team getting the fields prepped. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Without them we couldn’t have had the event. We had Melanie Jibben Smith and Yvonne Hartsock Windings overseeing the cheerleaders as they “girled” the concession stands. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Again, once they got in there we didn’t have to worry about a thing and couldn’t have done it without them. I’m so proud of our youth! Our master grillers kept us full all day. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">There was a HUGE silent auction, shirt sales, raffles and 50/50. Andria’s family had a gun raffle set up with the gun on display and it was a HUGE success in itself! </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">There was a bake sale on each ball field which received lots of donations and it was a huge success! There was a custom Koozie stand, to make your own. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">We had four softball teams participating in the event and three baseball teams. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The softball teams were The “A” Team coached by Anthony Howell & Diana Howell, Southern Storm coached by Barry Keller, Andria’s Angels coached by Wally Britt and The Cure coached by Rodney Seip. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Softball 1st place winners were Andria’s Angels and 2nd place winners were The Cure. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The baseball teams participating were Team SOAR coached by Jim Jones and Marc Kuba, Thunderboltz coached by Carl Evans and SI Bullets coached by Rodney Seip and Bucky Thies. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Baseball 1st place went to Team SOAR and 2nd place to SI Bullets. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">In the Home Run Derby girls division we had 29 participants with Kelsey Ray and Lauren Sweitzer going into a tie breaker and Kelsey Ray being our final “Queen of Swing!” </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">In the boys division, there were 21 participants with an initial five way tie. The tie then went into a face off between Ethan Crabtree and Landon Britt for three more rounds before the mayor Paul Zee Tomazzoli “called” it an official tie and “offered” to buy another “King of Swing” trophy due to heat and delay in finishing the tournament! </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Andria’s son Riley got to play a game with each team and participate in the HR Derby! Riley hadn’t played baseball in quite some time and was looking real good! He found a love for the game once again because of this event! That in itself was a success, but this day was HUGE! </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Almost right on time, we had all teams, fans and supporters come together on the front field for a tribute to Andria which started with the playing of The National Anthem. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Then Andria and her family were escorted onto the field by “Fight Song” where after a few words were said Josh Franklin took over to have all players, coaches, family, friends, fans and supporters make rings of circles around her joined hand in hand as he prayed for blessings of healing over her. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">This event was bigger than any of us thought it could be! It exceeded our expectations in every way and couldn’t have been done without everyone’s help and generosity. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Everyone always wants to know how much was raised and we will know that after we pay a couple outstanding t-shirt bills and collect the remaining silent auction payments from those who left before the event, hopefully mid-week. The amount of donations of auction items, baked goods, drinks, food, monetary donations, love and overall support was unheard of! </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The volunteers for this event are just too numerous to mention! Thank you teams that participated, cheerleaders, baseball players, grillers, donors, those that set up, tore down, donated, baked, sold tickets, sold shirts, bought anything, kept score, helped with music, picked up trash, helped at booths/tables and the list just goes on and on! </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">There are not enough words! Andria is already on her way to healing and will continue to do the rest of the work with continued support!</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">I should also mention raffle winners: </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">1st prize: SI Miners Owners Suite for 16 and $200 food. Winner: Michael Parks.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">2nd prize: 4 Cardinal Tickets. Winner: Wayne Moore.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">3rd prize: 4 Cubs Tickets. Winner: Jeff Williams.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">4th prize: 2 Toby Keith/Eli Young Concert Tickets. Winner: Jeff Williams. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">And the winner of the Cochran family gun raffle was Jeff Stroehlein.</span></p>