Softball proceeds to benefit troops

The National Guard Armory and the Bob Sorensen Softball Complex have always been good neighbors, and Thursday they solidified their relationship.

More than $1,900 in proceeds raised in the complex's three tournaments and regular-season games was given to the National Guard to help families who have financial difficulties while their service member is overseas.

Bob and Janet Sorensen generated the idea last spring when planning the upcoming softball season.

"We wanted to do something for the troops, and, well, we have these ball games," Bob said.

The father-daughter duo dubbed an invitational tournament in May and a district tournament in June "Support Your Troops" tournaments, in which money collected went to the National Guard. The softball complex also collected money from the summer's regular-season games and from the Grand Island city tournament last week.

"For several years now we've done a Memorial Day tournament, but we wanted something different to help the troops," Janet said. "So we came up with ’Support Your Troops,' and then we just ended up doing it for the whole season."

The National Guard helped set up the entrance gates for the tournament and helped collect the fees, she said.

"They use our property," Janet said of the softball complex. "And we sometimes use the armory. They're our neighbors, so we thought we'd help them."

She said some of the youth softball players have parents in the National Guard who have been deployed.

"This is the best way for the kids to know where their money is going," Janet said.