Osgood Journal Sports
August 12, 2008

First Annual Richard Purvis Memorial Softball Tournament is well supported

Gary Franklin, Sports Writer
In an attempt to help promote community fire awareness and safety in the lives of children and adults in their community, the Versailles Volunteer Fire Department's Ladies Auxiliary took on the task of holding a softball tournament to raise funds in the memory of a dear friend and former Fire Chief Richard Purvis.
The funds raised from the tournament were to help purchase educational prompts to make the firemen's presentation on fire safety more easily understood and to help purchase other needed equipment for the mens fire training, equipment, etc.
On Saturday, August 9, the First Annual Richard Purvis Memorial Softball Tournament was held at the Ohio Rod Softball Field. Some of the Ladies Auxiliary and volunteer firemen attended to the umpiring and scorekeeper duties, food booth operation while other community members assisted as well.
The tournament included six teams from the recently graduated age to the 'oldies but goodies' age. With the success of this years tournament and positive feedback from teams competing about coming back again, the debut will lead to an even bigger production next year. It is expected to be a two day event in '09 with twice as many teams.
The six team's competing represented Benham Industries, Kabota of Cincinnati, Allan's Taxidermy, with other three teams entered by Justin Haller, Jake Sipples and Adam Curry.

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO Representing Benham Industries, winners of the First Annual Richard Purvis Memorial Softball Tournament are pictured front, from left: Steve Huff, Bryan Franklin, Thom Conover, Tracy Moore and Robert (Bob-Cat) Adams. Standing: Todd Keene, Kyle Jolly, Brian Swinney, Matt McNew, Steven Franklin and Dakota Walker. The team went undefeated through the tourney.

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO Following an earlier game loss in the First Annual Richard Purvis Memorial Softball Tournament held at Ohio Rod on Saturday, August 9, Kubota of Cincinnati played their way back to the championship game where they finished as the Tournament Runner-Up. Pictured front, from left are: Troy Slayback, Ryan Shelton, Curtis Fugate, Jeremy Dole, Jeff Dilk and CR Robbins. Standing: Steve Pohling, Jason Dole, Caleb Shelton, Billy Ellis and Jake Roudebush.

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GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO Coach Wullenweber is not demonstrating a Lady Indian war dance Coach Wullenweber drew a round of applause from his Lady Indian volleyball team as he swept around the center court net, while the team prepared for practice Thursday morning, August 7 Pictured from left are senior Kayla Stutler, sophomore Stephanie Kirk, coach and freshman Lydia Ertel. The Lady Indians' first home game is scheduled for action on Tuesday, August 19, against the South Dearborn Lady Knights. The reserve match is to begin at 6 p.m. with the varsity match to follow.