This coming August 1st and 2nd, Nicholas B. Bloem VFW Post 12112 will be hosting our 12th Annual Veterans Memorial Softball Classic; proudly sponsored again this year by The Mint Café & Bar of Belgrade and Pizza Campania and Backcountry Burger Bar of Bozeman.
As always, this will once again be, the preeminent softball event of the year where the state’s best high school softball players will come together to showcase their talents while honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our great country.
5 teams representing each branch of military service will once again square off in a 3-game guarantee tournament format for this year's event. The two-day schedule will include 10 games with the possibility of a championship "If necessary" game under the lights on Saturday night. Also included in the schedule will be our popular special skills contests with a Friday night Home Run Derby and, on Saturday during the mid-morning session break, the Catchers Pop to Pop and Base Running contests.
In addition to honoring Montana’s best high school softball players along with Montana KIA, two athletes will each be awarded a $1,000 scholarship. One in honor of our post’s namesake Nicholas Bloem, sponsored again this year by Belgrade Liquor, and the other $1,000 scholarship in memory of Delaney Doherty; proudly sponsored by Madison River Brewing.
We have another great group of coaches leading our five teams into battle this year, starting with Alyssa Creighton of Dillon. Alyssa will be leading an Army team playing in honor of Private John W. Goodheart of Harlem, MT.
Leading our Marines team this year is Lori Goodell of Shepherd. This will be Lori's second time coaching at the classic and her Marines team will play in honor of Lance Corporal Darryl R. Juel of Scobey, MT.
Coaching the Air Force team for us this year is Keith Berning of Stevensville. Keith and his Air Force team will be playing in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Richard D. Appelhans of Dodson, MT.
Dennis Elgas of Manhattan will be leading our Coast Guard team this year. The Coast Guard team will play in honor of Lieutenant Thomas J. U. Crotty of Buffalo, NY.
Rounding out our group of coaches this year is Mike Mangold of Fergus. This will be Mike's second tour with us and his Navy team will be playing in honor of Chief Torpedoman's Mate Jack K. Nash of Bozeman, MT.
Join us in Belgrade this August 1st and 2nd at the Belgrade High School Softball Complex!
Also check out other Sports events in Belgrade, Contests in Belgrade.
