MINERSVILLE - The crack of softballs off aluminum bats and cheers of excited crowds filled the Minersville Area Little League Complex on Saturday as more than 300 people gathered to have fun while raising funds for a cause.
An effort to raise more than $50,000, it was day two of the week-long 22nd annual Moms for Make-A-Wish Softball Tournament, hosted by Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia Scranton Regional Office.
"The teams fundraise all year round, and that comes to a crescendo here at the tournament. So far, we raised a little over $40,000. We are hoping to raise between $50,000 and $60,000. The average cost of a wish is $3,900, so essentially we are hoping to grant 15 wishes for local children," said Maggie O'Brien, the organization's Northeast Regional Manager, Scranton.
In 2010, the event raised $40,000; in 2011, $53,000; and in 2012, $56,000, according to O'Brien.
"It's amazing. I played in it a couple of years ago," Lisa Bensinger, 30, of Orwigsburg, said Saturday.
Her daughter, Olivia, 8, is among the children being supported by the event.
On Saturday, Olivia was at the little league complex, having fun with other children, splashing about in the pool.
She turned 8 on Nov. 4, 2012. A few days later, she learned she was suffering from a form of cancer.
"We learned something was wrong on Nov. 7. And she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia Nov. 29," her mother said Saturday.
Olivia Bensinger has undergone numerous treatments and blood tests while being home schooled. She will return to public school in either October of November, her mother said. She will be a third-grade student at Blue Mountain Elementary West.
Her family also includes her father, Jason Bensinger, 32, and a brother, Jason J., 5.
"It's pretty much gone now, but they do so many studies and found if they don't keep treating it for the length of time that they do and it comes back, it's deadly. The treatment will end in February 2015," her mother said.
With her wish, Olivia asked if she could go to Disney World in Florida. "She asked to go to Disney because her brother's never been there," her mother said.
A total of 15 community women's softball teams are competing this week. They include: Beer Mountain, Brookside Bombshells, Buddy's Babes, Genesis Schuylkill Slammers, Herricane's, Luckenbill Brothers, Motley Crew, Psychos, Renninger's Market, Russo Pizza Den, Silly Sluggers, Twisted Sisters, Werner Lumber, Wild Things and Womer's Garage, according to a list O'Brien provided.
Each team works to raise funds for individual children. For instance, the Herricane's are raising funds for Olivia Bensinger.
"Each team is assigned a child as part of the wish-maker recognition program, and the children are local. We assign a child to each team as sort of an inspirational tool. Depending on how much that team raises, they may not be able to entirely fund the child. All the money raised through the event comes to Make-A-Wish and goes to wish-granting expenses for local children. And the tournament as a whole will underwrite the cost of about 15 wishes," O'Brien said.
Any mother age 26 years or older is eligible to play on the teams, and "one-half of the team must be moms," according to the Make-A-Wish Softball Tournament Rules.
Among the participants Saturday was Kathleen Riedlinger, Orwigsburg, who plays second base with the Renninger's Market team.
"It's a great cause. As a team, we work together to raise money and we take pride in what we do. And it's a great feeling when you get to meet the Make-A-Wish child you're working to support. It's good to do something for other people," Reidlinger said.
Leah Zerbe, Pine Grove, who plays second base with the Werner Lumber team, said fundraising is "fun."
"We do a few fundraisers through the year," Zerbe said.
"Teams are expected to raise half the amount of a wish in order to compete. The average cost of a wish is $3,900," O'Brien said.
"And the event brings some business into Minersville," said Lisa Herndon, Pottsville, a shortstop with the Renninger's Market team.
The event started Friday and will continue through the week. Today, it will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday is a rain date.
"We scheduled dates in case we got a rain out," O'Brien said.
On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, there will be games from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2 is also a rain date. And the playoffs will be held Saturday, Aug. 3, O'Brien said.
In addition to softball games, there will be a home run derby, basket raffles, special guests and entertainment.
"Attendees will have the opportunity to witness the power of a community uniting in fun to fund the granting of many powerful wishes. The wish experience positively impacts not only the life of the wish child but their family as well by providing a sense of happiness and normalcy," O'Brien said.
Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia grants wishes in 57 counties in western, central and northeastern Pennsylvania and 23 counties in southern West Virginia. The chapter is headquartered in Pittsburgh and has six regional offices: five in Pennsylvania, located in Erie, Pottsville, Punxsutawney, Scranton and York; and one in Charleston, W.Va.