The women of the Courtenay branch of the Royal Purple have donated $1,000 to the Evergreen Senior Slopitch League.
It’s the second year they’ve donated funds for uniforms and operation of the 35-plus member league, founded last year by Ernest Kassian.
The non-profit Royal Purple became independent from the Elks organization about a decade ago. It has donated money to the Child Development Centre, Santa’s Workshop and the Food Bank, among other groups. Funds are largely raised through bingo.
Kassian and Janet Hutchinson of the Evergreen Club recently presented Royal Purple president Thelma Lund with a photo of the Evergreen slopitch teams and a plaque of appreciation.
Kassian’s guiding philosophy — It’s not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game – has expanded the league’s membership and could add two teams next year. Teams play seven-inning games, twice a week from May to August at Lewis Park. Slight modifications, such as no sliding, reduce the risk of injury.
A recruitment list of nearly a dozen players has been initiated. Those interested in playing slopitch next spring can leave contact information with Wayne Tedder at (250) 871-3881 or wtedder@shaw.ca.
Players must be members of the Evergreen Club (yearly fee of $27 plus tax) and pay a registration fee of $10 for the season. Evergreen membership entitles entry to some 40 clubs at the Filberg Centre, and discounts with several activities.
For more information about senior slopitch, contact Kassian at (250) 335-1333.
For more information about Royal Purple, contact Lund at (250) 898-7166.