Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Gile tournament raises funds for suicide awareness

By RICHARD JENKINS

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GILE, Wis. - For the eighth year, softball teams gathered at Gotta's field in Gile to compete and raise money for a good cause as the ball field off Wisconsin 77 played host to the annual Danny B. Suicide Awareness Jack and Jill Softball Tournament.

"It's going great, we've got the championship game coming up - two former champions going at it here. Fun teams, everyone is having a great time," said organizer Bryan Sokolowski.

The team sponsored by Snow Country Construction ultimately defeated Brite Spot's team to win the tournament.

While hopefully everyone had fun at the event, Sokolowski said the money raised during the two-day tournament will be split between Range Area Suicide Prevention and donations to help with the field's upkeep and renovations.

While he needed to check the totals, he thought the weekend had raised around $500.

Along with the tournament; the weekend featured a dunk tank, raffle items, food and drinks at the concession stand and more.

The tournament is named after Danny Baross, who took his own life in 2009.

Sokolowski said a group of Baross' friends, family and teammates got together in 2011 and wanted to do something to remember him.

"He was just a fun person to be around, always smiling - just a blast," Sokolowski said. "He loved Jack and Jill tournaments."

He said as Gotta's field was their home field, it seemed a fitting place to host the annual event.

 
 
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