For the past three years, softball players and fans from throughout the Virgin Islands gather together in the spring to play ball for a good cause. In the process, they honor the memory of Ruby Rutnik, a former Antilles School softball star who died in an automobile accident during her senior year of college in 1996.
This year's tournament will be held at Winston Wells Ball Park on St. John
from Friday afternoon, April 14 until Sunday night, April 16.
The money raised from this event will be used to award two college scholarships of $2,500 to young women from St. John.
"It's the biggest softball tournament in the Virgin Islands," said Ruby's
mother, Janet Cook Rutnik. "All the schools are represented."
The participation of girls' softball teams is the heart of the tournament, but men's modified slow pitch teams also compete throughout the weekend.
The tournament raises funds by seeking donations of $100 to sponsor an
inning.
Corporate sponsors and "angel' sponsors are also being sought this year. Sponsors' names are announced throughout the games. "It's a great way to advertise your rental home, your boat, or even announce your wedding engagement," added Janet Cook-Rutnik.
Community support for the event has grown, and Janet is pleased that in only three years, the scholarship fund has reached one-third of its goal to create an endowment that is self perpetuating. Those who wish to sponsor innings can call the Rutniks at Guavaberry Farms at 776-6809, Connections in Cruz Bay at 776-6922, or Connections in Coral Bay at 779-4994.
To register a men's or women's team to play in the tournament, contact Gayle Deller, this year's tournament organizer, at 774-0352.
The first winner of the Ruby Rutnik Memorial Scholarship was Tessa Williams, who attends Ruby's alma mater, American University in Washington, D.C. The current scholarship holders are Khania Dawson, now in her second year at Hampton University, and Tiffany Rogers, a freshman at Florida Atlantic University.
Scholarship applications for this year's award will be available in late May.
