(Temiskaming Shores) – The Shanna Larsen Memorial slo-pitch tournament, dubbed “Knock Cancer Out of the Park”, enjoyed its 4th annual edition July 10-12. Featuring 29 teams, over 300 players, and many more spectators and friends, the combined efforts of all culminated in a great weekend for an even greater cause.

Based beneath the tents at the Algonquin Regiment Memorial Beach Park, the tournament held games at Rotary Farr Park in Haileybury, Dymond Field in Dymond Twp, as well as the three Beach Park fields. Over 75 games in total were played in a commemoration of the life and passing of former Haileybury resident Shanna Larsen. Having raised over $12,000 cumulatively for the Cdn Breast Cancer, the 2009 proceeds are being donated directly to “Team Shan”.

“Team Shan” (www.teamshan.ca) is a collaboration of friends and Shanna’s parents Rob and Lorna with like-minded individuals striving to foster awareness that breast cancer is “not just a disease of older women.” While attending the University of Western Ontario in London Shanna was afflicted with breast cancer – undetected until it had spread throughout her body and ultimately took her life; Shanna was 24.

Team Shan has been tirelessly working to spread their message via print- and radio-media, as well as establishing billboards and signs with Shanna’s picture being the focal-point of the display. To this end, the proceeds of this year’s tournament have been used to create and erect the Team Shan billboard located southbound on Highway 11, south of the Dymond Industrial Park.

“This tournament is so well-received on so many different levels” remarked tournament organizer James T. Paterson. “But this year really blew us away. 29 teams, more donations than we’ve ever received, and nearly twice the entrants in the Skater’s Edge home run derby? Absolutely astounding. We couldn’t have anticipated the momentum this tournament has generated.”

“On Saturday we had games from 7am to well after midnight, on both lighted-diamonds; it’s truly awe-inspiring from an organizational perspective to know these teams, these players, all these people are all here for Shanna and Team Shan.”


RESULTS:
18 teams entered the mixed division, and coming in the favourites had to be the 3-time and defending champion Gabe’s Auto. However when the dust settled, Les Rameurs emerged as champion, wresting the Findlay’s Drig Store-donated pink Major League Baseball model bat trophy from the Gabe’s grasp.

In the recreational division, the “Team Shan” team fittingly took home the title after 6 gruelling games of play.

In the Denis Gauvreau Men’s Division of the tournament bracket, the Brewers surged to the title defeating Team Ballsdeep in the championship game Sunday afternoon. In the recreational division the Boozers proved their mettle by besting Over/Under.

Complimenting the tournament again this year, the Home Run Derby sponsored by Skater’s Edge of Sudbury took place on Sunday afternoon. After addressing the crowd with words of courage and encouragement, Lorna Larsen hit the ceremonial first pitch of the derby to a rousing ovation. With high-end DeMarini bats as top prize in both men’s and women’s divisions, Pierre Legros and Julie Gosselin took home the titles as this year’s respective bombers.

Trophies, team, and individual prizes were graciously donated by establishments both local and out-of-town: Findlay’s Drug Store, Skater’s Edge and DeMarini/Wilson Sports, Bart White and Canadian Tire, NSA, Miller-North, the Toronto Blue Jays baseball club, the Buffalo Bills football team, Norma Hughes and Northern Telephone, Three-H Manufacturing, The Co-operators and Daniel Lemire, Pedersen Contruction, ARC Industries, Mark’s Work Wearhouse and Bobby Morin, KOOL KEGS, and the New Liskeard Lions Club – Dave Morin, Sr.

“Special thanks to the City of Temiskaming Shores, too. They provided and set-up the tents and tables for our use beyond the outfield of the centre diamond; with the rain and weather we endured at times this weekend they were a perfect compliment to our activities” stated Paterson. “This tournament would not have been anywhere as productive without those tents and the rec. department’s help leading up to and during this weekend.”

Said Paterson, “our community continues to amaze with its generosity – to go from the spectacle and success of the Biker’s Reunion last weekend and follow it up with such a successful ball tournament… it really makes you stop and appreciate your community for all it is and all it gives.”

“And to see Shanna’s picture on that billboard, so “larger than life”, we only hope her face helps make more young women aware and prevent what happened to her from happening them.”


Picture tag:
“Knock Cancer Out of the Park” and “Team Shan” representatives officially unveil the Shanna Larsen – Team Shan billboard on Hwy 11 South. From left to right: Diane Jibb, Vanessa Paterson, Emma Whalen, Shannon Jibb, Jessica and Lauren Paterson, James T. Paterson, Clint Beairsto, Alex Bain, Kassidy Peterson-Fiset, Kara Peterson, and Logan and Pierre Rivard.