By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com

The Bucyrus Little League community is going to bat for one of its coaches with the Tommy Smith Slugfest Tournament.

Chuck Hollis, Tournament Director for the Slugfest, has known Smith for a number of years. They met as coaches and worked for a time together at IB Tech. As a parent, Hollis believed that Smith was the type of person you would want coaching your kid.

When Hollis heard that Smith had been diagnosed with cancer, he thought it was time for the Little League community to do something for a man who had dedicated much of his life to the players that came through its ranks. Hollis sat down, looked over the Bucyrus Little League schedule and came up with an idea. The Tommy Smith Slugfest, a double elimination tournament, was born.

“We have the fields and facilities at Aumiller to do such (a thing as Slugfest),” Hollis said.

All he needed was the backing of the Little League board. He received backing from not only the board but also the league, parents, and players.

“Ultimately it’s for the kids but this tournament is for Tommy,” Hollis said. “He’s just always there (for the kids) so what better way to turn his experience and knowledge around and help him out.”

The Tommy Smith Slugfest Tournament, to be held on June 27, 28, and 29 at Aumiller Park, will benefit Smith. It is a double elimination tournament with the first game set to start at 6 p.m. on Friday. The Saturday games will start at 10 a.m. and the championship games will take place on Sunday.

Hollis said they already have six Bucyrus Little League teams signed up for the event. A Plymouth team has also signed up for the tournament while interest has been expressed by teams from Willard, Sandusky-Perkins, Galion, Crestline, Nevada, New Washington, Shelby, New London, and Clyde.

Sign up for the tournament ends June 20, though Hollis said they will never turn a team away. The goal is to have 24 teams signed up but they will take as many as 30 teams.

Registration for the tournament is $150 per existing league team. Travel teams will not be allowed to participate.

There will also be 50/50 and raffle drawings along with a Homerun Derby. Registration for the Homerun Derby begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 28. Cost is $5 per person. Age divisions for the derby are 10-, 11-, 12-, and 13-year-olds, and open.

To sign up for the Slugfest Tournament contact Little League President Travis Hardy (419-569-0499) or Chuck Hollis (419-562-5576) or email bucyruslittleleague@gmail.com.