The Northern Virginia Whiffle Ball World Series came to Vienna last Saturday, turning Waters Field into a sort of family festival from morning til night. The event raised money for the Brian Bedell 2-Young Foundation, which supports brain cancer research and families confronted with a brain cancer diagnosis.
Bedell was a Vienna native who died of a brain tumor last year at the age of 35, after spending of his time playing sports on Waters Field.
Saturday's event featured a 56-team tournament for ages 13 and up, a children's tournament and many children's attractions, including a moon bounce, an inflatable slide, mascots and games. U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R-11) and Del. Steve Shannon (D-35) kicked off the day with a home run derby.
The Philly Shockers, from Media, Pa., won the tournament, defeating Team Future from Vienna in the final game of the day. In the Final Four playoff, a team of Madison High School coaches called the Robo-Warhawks, led by Mark Gjormand, lost to Future, and the Mighty Hawks, another Vienna team, lost to the Shockers.
Davis won the home run derby.
The action spilled over into the Vienna Fire Station, where a silent auction was underway, food was being supplied by the Vienna Inn, a raffle was held, more children's activities were available, and the whiffle ball games could be watched live on several television screens.
Although the final numbers are not in, organizer Mike Ryan said the event raised funds in the neighborhood of $50,000.