GAME OF THE WEEK (July 20–26)
SOFTBALL: Steve Woodard Baseball Camp Pros vs. Joes Celebrity Softball Game, Monday, July 24, 7 p.m.
FENNIMORE — It doesn’t take arm-twisting to convince former Major League Baseball stars to sign up for the Do It 4 Derek Steve Woodard Baseball Camp.
The Steve Woodard Baseball Camp is returning to Fennimore next week with two camps set for July 24-25 and July 26-27, from for 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. each day. Registration for the two-day camp is $100. If a camper would like to attend an additional two days, they may do so for $50. Registration for the camp remains open until July 18. Those interested can register at doit4derek.com. Campers ages six through 18 are welcome.
The marquee events of the week will be Monday’s Pros vs. Joe’s Celebrity Softball game, set for 7 p.m. at Derek Lendosky Community Field in Fennimore’s Business Park. This year’s game will be nine innings, as requested by the Pros.
The Pros team will feature former Major Leaguers Jim Gantner, Pete Ladd, Cecil Cooper, Greg Vaughn, Paul Wagner, Willie Mueller, Scott Karl and Woodard. Joining the Pros will be former Wisconsin Badgers stars Bradie Ewing (football) and Josh Gasser (basketball), two-time Olympic softball player Erin White (Canada) camp director Steve Lendosky and online auction winner Brent Jones.
The Joes team will include James “Farva” Neff, Ben Wood, Jason Hollander, Frank Riley, Tyler Keeney, Brent Sheckler, Chris Tarrell, Travis Washburn, Brad Collins, Adam Day, Dennis Lendosky and Rick Place.
A Home Run Derby will follow the game. Wagner is the defending champion. A fireworks display by Kastner Pyrotechnics will cap off the evening.
A hot commodity last summer, bags of baseball cards will be sold at the Pros vs. Joes game. More than 60 cards are included in each bag. Also sold will be Brewers-only bags of cards, which may include randomly inserted autographed cards.
New in 2017 will be a Concert in the Park, on the Grid-Iron football field in the Business Park. Gates will open at 3:30 p.m. on July 25 for the 7 p.m. concert. Alex Smith and Broseph E. Lee are the acts for the inaugural Do It 4 Derek Concert in the Park. Smith began writing country music after his dreams of playing collegiate baseball were dashed. Broseph E. Lee has toured with Florida Georgia Line and Lady Antebellum.
After a strong debut last summer, Tower Junction in Montfort will host an 8-pin Tap Tournament at 6:30 p.m. on July 26. Raffles and a silent auction will also be part of the Tournament festivities. Bowling pins signed by the Pros will return as well.
The ever-popular 18-hole golf tournament at Hickory Grove Golf Course will bring the festivities to a close on July 27.
Do It 4 Derek Steve Woodard Baseball Camp Schedule of Events
Camp 1: Monday-Tuesday, July 24–25, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Camp 2: Wednesday–Thursday, July 26–27, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Monday, July 25: Pros vs. Joes Celebrity Softball Game, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, July 26: Do it 4 Derek Concert in the Park, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 27: Bowl with the Pros 8-pin Tap Tournament, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 28: 18-hole 4-man Golf Tournament
