Once more, for the fun of it: All-Area Alumni Game to be held

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Woodward-Granger senior-to-be Meagan Bandstra (at right, in catcher's gear) is organizing an All-Area Alumni game/fundraiser, set for July 18, as her senior project.

WOODWARD — Former high school softball players of all ages are invited to participate in an All-Alumni game — or, if numbers continue to increase — a tournament, on the Phil Creese Diamond in Woodward July 18.

Current Woodward-Granger player Meagan Bandstra will be a senior this August, and for her senior project she has decided to organize an alumni game (or more) for all former players, and not just those who attended W-G.

“I take an awful lot of pride in the Hawks uniform I wear and in the field I play on,” Bandstra said. “I know many former Hawks feel the same way, and I know there are plenty of players out there who went to other schools who feel just like I do about the years they played softball.”

“I realized that the keeping a field up and doing improvements, even small ones, costs a considerable amount of money,” she added. “That gave me the idea of starting an event that will hopefully become yearly and continue down through the years. The money raised will go into a fund and that will hopefully grow over the years and can be used for whatever improvements might be needed.”

Bandstra stressed that the game(s) would be strictly for fun, and that players will be assigned to teams so that those competing will be as balanced as possible.

“We want to create a fun environment and have everyone have a great time,” she explained. “I cannot say enough how much we would love to have former players from anywhere in the area come play — grab a few friends and sign up! Everyone is welcome and everyone will get a chance to play.”

The cost per player is $30, which will include a grill-out dinner at the concession stand, a t-shirt and playing in the game. Families and community members are invited to make a free will donation for the dinner, which will be served a 2 p.m. Players will begin warming up at 3 p.m. with the game — or games, if numbers allow — starting at 4 p.m.

Each W-G senior is required to do a senior project, and Bandstra said she hoped one or more of the players following her will continue with the alumni game idea. Students must have a non-family member who is at least 21 years old serve as their adviser for their project, which must include a portfolio with a slideshow presentation and other materials related to the project.

“I am hoping we get a great turnout,” Bandstra said. “I want everyone to come out and have fun, share some laughs and remember the fun times they had when they played softball in high school, whether that was at W-G or somewhere else.”

Money and entry forms can be turned in to Bandstra or to Missy Lantz (who is serving as her adviser for the project) at the W-G admissions office in Granger. Forms can be requested via email at meaganbandstra@wgstudent.k12.ia.us and money may be mailed to P.O. Box 10, Granger, IA 50109. Checks can be made payable to Woodward-Granger Alumni Game. Questions can be directed to Bandstra at (515) 343-4642 or Lantz at (515) 979-2101.

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