April 20, 2007 — Play ball! The 11th annual Ruby Rutnik Softball Tournament will take place May 4 and 5 at the Winston Wells Ballfield in Cruz Bay.
The event is in memory of the late Ruby Rutnik, who died in 1996 at age 21 in a car crash in Washington, D.C. A star pitcher at Antilles School, she was attending American University in Washington when she died. Her parents, Janet and Andy Rutnik started the tournament the year after she died to coincide with her birthday, April 9.
The event will be held later this year because Transfer Day was observed on the usual weekend, Janet Rutnik said. Subsequent weekends saw the St. Thomas Carnival Queen Show and other events.
"It was a little hard to get a date," she said.
Andy Rutnik said he expects five teams to participate: Central High School and an all-star team from St. Croix, and Antilles, Charlotte Amalie and Eudora Kean high schools from St. Thomas. The opening ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. May 4.
Last year an all-star team from Tortola won the tournament, Andy Rutnik said. The money raised at the tournament goes to fund the Ruby Rutnik Scholarship Fund, which to date has awarded $64,000 in scholarships to 19 students.
Sponsors are needed for innings. They're for sale at $100 each. Names of the sponsors will be announced at the beginning of each inning. Games sponsorships run $700. Scholarship sponsorships are $2,500.
Donations of other amounts are also accepted.
Sponsorship applications are available at Connections in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay, or by contacting the Rutniks at 693-8069. They may be dropped off at both Connection locations or mailed to Rutnik, Box 348, St. John, VI 00831. Checks should be made payable to RRSF Inc. All sponsorships are tax deductible.
Money raised through the sale of food and drink goes to fund activities by the Love City Pan Dragons.
Every year some of the money goes to make improvements at the Winston Wells Ballfield, Andy Rutnik said. This year, he said, he plans to paint the dugouts and bandstand as well as install some permanent trash receptacles.
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