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Street Kids Win Mishawaka
City Championship!
Backed by an inspirational Shane Varga, SKS wins 7th tourney of 2009
City Championship!
Backed by an inspirational Shane Varga, SKS wins 7th tourney of 2009
| SKS outfielder Shane Varga connects for his first home run of the 2009 season, completing what he calls his biggest step since beating cancer last month. Varga continues to go through chemotherapy every other week, and has admitted that the treatments are the hardest part of his battle. Read more about Shane Varga here. |
Mishawaka, IN 7/19/09
Just three short months ago, Shane Varga didn't
know what the future would hold after being
diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, a form of
cancer, let alone be on a softball diamond. But after
defeating cancer yet struggling through the toughest
part physically going through the chemotherapy
treatments, he stepped onto the field in Mishawaka
for the City Championship, hoping to add a lift to
the Street Kids/Suburban South softball team. Little
did he know at the time, he would be a big lift.
Varga hit his first home run on Saturday (see video)
and then came off the bench in the seventh inning of
the championship game on Sunday to hit a dramatic,
pinch hit three run home run, to help lead the SKS
team to a 18-8 victory over Ro-Sham-Bo/SKS and
give the Kids the Mishawaka City crown. It was
their seventh tournament win of 2009.
"I was just looking to hit a gap shot, or at worst, get
the ball in the air to score the runner on third," Varga
said after the game. "But I hit it well and it went out
of the park. And historically, I struggle against (RSB
pitcher) Scott Kronk. This might have been my first
home run ever off of him."
Varga's home run gave the Kids (74-23 overall) a
seven run lead before Joe Richard hit another big
three run home run, his second of the game, to give
the Kids a 10-run lead going into the bottom of the
seventh. RSB would not score.
"You know to battle back from what he is going
through, and I have been with him from the
beginning, this is a special day," said SKS manager
TJ Jorgensen. "I saw other players just get so
motivated when he is there. I was a great moment
for us all."
Scott Kronk of RSB agreed.
"Shane is an inspirational player," the pitcher said.
"He inspires us all with his perseverance and faith in
God. Much respect here, Shane-o!"
Tony Hardiman played great defense and helped
lead the win with a 5-for-5 day at the plate, and was
named co-tourney MVP along with Varga. Overall,
Hardiman was 18-for-22 at the plate, scoring 13
runs in the leadoff role. And who could forget
Danny Fleming? Fleming, the former SKS player
who has been traveling for work for the past six
months, came in to pitch the championship game
and pitched a near flawless game.
Just three short months ago, Shane Varga didn't
know what the future would hold after being
diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, a form of
cancer, let alone be on a softball diamond. But after
defeating cancer yet struggling through the toughest
part physically going through the chemotherapy
treatments, he stepped onto the field in Mishawaka
for the City Championship, hoping to add a lift to
the Street Kids/Suburban South softball team. Little
did he know at the time, he would be a big lift.
Varga hit his first home run on Saturday (see video)
and then came off the bench in the seventh inning of
the championship game on Sunday to hit a dramatic,
pinch hit three run home run, to help lead the SKS
team to a 18-8 victory over Ro-Sham-Bo/SKS and
give the Kids the Mishawaka City crown. It was
their seventh tournament win of 2009.
"I was just looking to hit a gap shot, or at worst, get
the ball in the air to score the runner on third," Varga
said after the game. "But I hit it well and it went out
of the park. And historically, I struggle against (RSB
pitcher) Scott Kronk. This might have been my first
home run ever off of him."
Varga's home run gave the Kids (74-23 overall) a
seven run lead before Joe Richard hit another big
three run home run, his second of the game, to give
the Kids a 10-run lead going into the bottom of the
seventh. RSB would not score.
"You know to battle back from what he is going
through, and I have been with him from the
beginning, this is a special day," said SKS manager
TJ Jorgensen. "I saw other players just get so
motivated when he is there. I was a great moment
for us all."
Scott Kronk of RSB agreed.
"Shane is an inspirational player," the pitcher said.
"He inspires us all with his perseverance and faith in
God. Much respect here, Shane-o!"
Tony Hardiman played great defense and helped
lead the win with a 5-for-5 day at the plate, and was
named co-tourney MVP along with Varga. Overall,
Hardiman was 18-for-22 at the plate, scoring 13
runs in the leadoff role. And who could forget
Danny Fleming? Fleming, the former SKS player
who has been traveling for work for the past six
months, came in to pitch the championship game
and pitched a near flawless game.
"We were coming into this weekend missing several
guys, including Lanny Fisher, Joe Horvath, Scott
Martin, Chris Firebaugh, Mark Hershberger and we
were without Zach Yeaney and Kalei Enterline after they collided yesterday," Jorgensen added. "So for
guys like Chad Doan, Jason Fowler, Joe Richard, Jamie Dyer and Danny to step up like this shows how
much heart this team has."
Along with Hardiman and
Varga, Nick Bishop, TJ
Jorgensen and Joe Richard
were named to the
all-tournament team. Also
being named to the all-tourney
team from Ro-Sham-Bo/SKS
was Scott Kronk, Boz
Andrews, Damien Caffrey,
Nayln McGuire and Todd
Swihart.
A scary moment happened
on Saturday during a third
round game when a fly ball
was hit to shallow center field.
Middle infielder Kalei
Enterline and center fielder
Zach Yeaney both ran for the
ball and collided. Yeaney
made an incredible catch,
but both players suffered for
it as Yeaney's tooth smashed
into Enterline's right hand,
embedding a deep gash that
required stitches later that
night. Both players were not
in action on Sunday and
Enterline will be out of action
for 10 days.
"The doctor at the emergency
room said I should be good
to go by ASA State," said
the first year SKS infielder. "It hurts today (Sunday), but with no softball for two weeks, I should be fine."
Yeaney was unavailable for comment on Sunday.
The win was the seventh tournament win of the year for the Kids, equalling last years total. After some
league championship games this week, the Kids will rest and prepare for the ASA Class B state
championship in Indianapolis on August 1st. And the Kids wont be alone there either.
"My plan is to be there to help this team," said Varga. "As long as I am feeling up to it, I want to be there
to help any way I can."
________________________________________
guys, including Lanny Fisher, Joe Horvath, Scott
Martin, Chris Firebaugh, Mark Hershberger and we
were without Zach Yeaney and Kalei Enterline after they collided yesterday," Jorgensen added. "So for
guys like Chad Doan, Jason Fowler, Joe Richard, Jamie Dyer and Danny to step up like this shows how
much heart this team has."
Along with Hardiman and
Varga, Nick Bishop, TJ
Jorgensen and Joe Richard
were named to the
all-tournament team. Also
being named to the all-tourney
team from Ro-Sham-Bo/SKS
was Scott Kronk, Boz
Andrews, Damien Caffrey,
Nayln McGuire and Todd
Swihart.
A scary moment happened
on Saturday during a third
round game when a fly ball
was hit to shallow center field.
Middle infielder Kalei
Enterline and center fielder
Zach Yeaney both ran for the
ball and collided. Yeaney
made an incredible catch,
but both players suffered for
it as Yeaney's tooth smashed
into Enterline's right hand,
embedding a deep gash that
required stitches later that
night. Both players were not
in action on Sunday and
Enterline will be out of action
for 10 days.
"The doctor at the emergency
room said I should be good
to go by ASA State," said
the first year SKS infielder. "It hurts today (Sunday), but with no softball for two weeks, I should be fine."
Yeaney was unavailable for comment on Sunday.
The win was the seventh tournament win of the year for the Kids, equalling last years total. After some
league championship games this week, the Kids will rest and prepare for the ASA Class B state
championship in Indianapolis on August 1st. And the Kids wont be alone there either.
"My plan is to be there to help this team," said Varga. "As long as I am feeling up to it, I want to be there
to help any way I can."
________________________________________
AUDIO: Shane
Varga talks
about hitting a
big pinch-hit
three run home
run on Sunday.
Varga talks
about hitting a
big pinch-hit
three run home
run on Sunday.
Co-Tourney MVP Tony Hardiman was nearly perfect all
weekend, batting .818 overall.
weekend, batting .818 overall.
