‘Eleven Seconds to 11 Years: Playing Together for a Cure’

11th Annual Travis Roy Foundation WIFFLE Ball Tournament On Tap For August 10-12

ESSEX, Vt. — The 11th annual Travis Roy Foundation WIFFLE Ball Tournament returns to Little Fenway and Little Wrigley in Essex, Vermont on Friday-Sunday, August 10-12, 2012. The theme, ‘Eleven Seconds to 11 Years: Playing Together for a Cure’, celebrates this year’s tourney that again will take place at the quarter-scale replicas of the major league parks built at the home of Essex-native Pat O’Connor.

The first tourney was held in 2002 after O’Connor was inspired by former Boston University men’s hockey player Travis Roy’s incredible story in the book, ‘Eleven Seconds’, written by Sports Illustrated senior writer E.M. Swift. All funds go to the foundation that benefits and creates awareness for people with spinal cord injuries, and is named after Roy who resides with his family in nearby Mallets Bay each summer.

Last year’s 10th annual edition of the tournament raised a record $406,000 to push the decade-long fundraising total of the backyard WIFFLE ball tournament over $1.5 million dollars. The event is open to the public and admission is free.

The tournament opens Friday and runs through the championship game on Sunday. In addition to the action on the field, a silent auction and many raffles will be held throughout the weekend. The Scooter’s Pretzel’s Home Run Derby, a kid’s WIFFLE ball game and other fun kid’s activities including face painting, games and contests will take place at Little Fenway and Little Wrigley.

Opening ceremonies for the tourney are Friday with the annual Celebrity-Sponsor game at Little Fenway. A full list of celebrities will be announced prior to the tournament.

For the second straight the tourney will be streamed live on the internet on the Pack Network. The opening ceremonies and celebrity-sponsor game, Saturday’s money count ceremony and Sunday’s title game will be aired live as well as game action from Little Fenway throughout the weekend.

Although the 24-team tourney field is complete, donations and team pledges will be accepted at the site and on line at www.travisroyfoundation.org.

For directions to Little Fenway and Little Wrigley, please log on to www.littlefenway.com.

Also, log on to www.packnetwork.com to view live streaming video of the tournament.

Sponsorship opportunities are available and still welcome. For more information please contact Belinda Davison (e-mail: 2bdavison@comcast.net).