If you went by Lion's Park on Saturday, Sept. 22 you may have wondered what the crowd was for. The dozens of slo pitch players weren't only there for fun in the sun, but also for a worthy cause. The tournament was to celebrate the life of Robin Big Eagle, a sports lover, who passed away five years ago. Organizers included Ashley Eashappie,Vance Big Eagle and JJ Big Eagle, who all also participated in the day's games. Teams included young children, seniors and everyone in between.Players hit the diamonds at 10 a.m. sharp for a full day of ball as eight teams played 10 games. The second annual slo pitch tournament was put together by Robin's family and friends, following the success of last year's baseball tournament and hockey tournament. The day began rather chilly, and competitors were equipped with hoodies and jackets. By the time the first hour was done, the sun had come out and warmed up the fields. Luck was on their side and the day remained bright. The day was not only filled with sports but also with some other challenges all in the name of fun, as Robin was known to love having fun with people and enjoyed his social time and his baseball. The day also brought family members and friends together who had not seen each other in a while, making it quite a social event.The big champions of the day were the Hit & Run team who went home with $500. Second place went to Jessie's Team for $300, but they quickly donated $100 back to next year's tournament. Third place went to the host team, which included Robin's family and was entitled Express, they took home $200. The home run champions were Lowell Yuzicappi and Chantel Lindsay.The very successful tournament was sponsored by the Bear Claw Casino.
