With apologies to the Masters golf tournament, the ZOpen wiffleball tournament is becoming a tradition like no other.
Perhaps that’s an exaggeration, but the tournament — which was held in the back yards of four residences just south of Good Hope Road in Menomonee Falls July 31 — featured 12 teams and 63 players that played throughout the day.
Organizer John Lorenz noted that the tournament was started in the memory of the father’s of two friends who died from cancer. Since then, the fathers of two more friends have also died from the disease.
Funds raised from the event will go toward the Community Memorial Hospital Foundation. After this year’s event Lorenz estimated the event will have raised between $23,000 to $25,000 for the foundation.
A few new features this year included a hot tub in the outfield of one of fields courtesy of Pool Park, K-Love Christian radio was out at the site for a few hours while Redwood Winery provided wine for a wine tasting event.
Lorenz noted that he only has room for 12 teams and that he sends out applications to 30 potential team captains, with the first 12 returned getting into the event.
“The returners get their stuff in fast because they know they want to be here,” Lorenz said.
The team names included Hit for Brains, Packin’ Heat, The Office, Opa’s Jaeger, Mustache Mafia, and Just for Fun.
While organizing the event involved a lot of work, the end result is what matters to Lorenz.
“I love to do it. It’s a lot of work, but I enjoy it — it doesn’t get old,” he said.
—By Thomas J. McKillen, Managing Editor