The McQuade slowpitch softball tournament has raised more than 800,000 for charity since its inception in 1976. Tournament organizers want to do better for those in need. All men's and women's teams at this year's tournament will be allowed to buy an extra home run for 10.
This year's McQuade tournament begins Friday and concludes Sunday. It will be played on numerous softball fields in Bismarck-Mandan. "Last year we were sitting around the umpire shack trying to think of ways to raise more money for the tournament," tournament manager Mike Wolf said.
"The New Jersey and Nebraska umpires brought up the idea of charging for an extra home run. We thought it was a great idea." Men's Class B and old pro teams are allowed four home runs each in a game.
Men's and women's Class C teams are allowed three home runs a game. All other men's and women's divisions are allowed two home runs per game. Tournament officials asked for special approval from the state Amateur Softball Association to allow teams to buy an extra home run.
Since it benefitted charity, the McQuade organizers got the state's blessing. Wolf believes a lot of teams will take advantage of the extra home run, especially the men's Class B and C teams. Wolf estimated that the tournament could bring in more than 1,000 from just those two classes.
"The Clem Kelley fences are only 280 down the line," Wolf said. They will have an opportunity to get another home run. The McQuade tournament dispersed money to more than 50 charities and organizations last year.
"We have a wide variety of people that benefit from our tournament," Wolf said. McQuade tournament officials are taking the time to honor former tournament manager Marlow Lindblom this weekend. Lindblom was the tournament manager for 25 years.
He was 67. Lindblom will be honored during Friday's opening ceremony. His widow, Marcy, will throw out the first pitch.
The park benches in the area of Clem Kelley Diamonds 5 and 8 will also be dedicated to Lindblom. The dedication will take place at the trophy presentations and awards ceremony on Sunday. Making the call A well-diversified crew of umpires is scheduled to work the tournament.
Coming to the Capital City will be arbiters from New Jersey, Nebraska, South Dakota, Montana and Minneapolis. Every corner of North Dakota will also be represented, from Williston to Grand Forks and from Dickinson to Wahpeton. Wolf is the state's umpire-in-chief and has encouraged umpires from out-of-state to work the McQuade tournament.
"I told them to just come out and try it one time; you won't believe what it's like,"Wolf said. The McQuade tournament uses 90 umpires for the weekend. Wolf likes the idea of in-state and out-of-state umpires working together.
"It takes some pressure off our local umpires," Wolf said. "They get tired and fatigued if it's hot. The teams get to see new umpires and our umpires get to work with other umpires.
It's a good experience working with people from other parts of the country." A lot of families wait for a reunion to reconnect. Not the Wolf family.
They like to reunite during the McQuade tournament. The Wolfpack, a men's Rec IIIteam, consists of 12 players who are related. They also all share the same last name Wolf.
The Wolfs decided to form a team for the McQuade tournament last year at a family funeral. "We decided we should get together during happy times instead of only sad times," said team member Mike Wolf, who is not related to the tournament manager of the same name. "After last year we decided we had to organize it again.
We had a great time playing together and we had a fun time afterwards." The Wolf family all has ties to Knox, a small community near Rugby. The Wolfpack fields two players older than 60 - Gary (63) and Jack (61).
Steve is the youngest player at 19. One is flying in from Florida for the tournament. Some are coming from Minneapolis and Grand Forks.
The Wolfs also connect once a year for a golf tournament in memory of a family member. "All we do is sports," Mike Wolf said. "That's all there was to do in Knox.
We only got two TV channels. All you could do was sports." The McQuade slowpitch softball tournament has raised more than 800,000 for charity since its inception in 1976.
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