Wiffle Ball Fundraiser To Take Place July 15-17

Article from Hartford Courant

The third annual Troy Russell/Austin Tautkus Wiffle Ball Tournament will take place July 15-17 in Ellington.

Danny Hayes, a former Ellington High School classmate of both Tautkus and Russell, developed the tournament to honor the memory of Tautkus, who lost his life in an ATV accident, and Russell, who is receiving ongoing treatment for a spinal cord injury.

Russell had a swimming accident in 2012, and Hayes organized a basketball tournament fundraiser in 2013. When Tautkus had his accident in 2014, Hayes was already building a Fenway replica in his backyard, and decided to go ahead and turn that endeavor into a full-fledged charity event.

"I thought the community could really use it, it's something fun to do, and I knew they both liked to play wiffle ball," Hayes said. "It's been really successful so far."

Hayes said approximately 20 teams (of 4-5 people each) have turned out for the tournament each year so far, as well as many fans and supporters.

Teams play three innings (which will be expanded to five this year) by standard wiffle ball rules, and the tournament is competitive, yet laid back, Hayes said.

Prizes include T-shirts for the championship team and the home run derby championships. Raffles are also held, with prizes provided by local businesses.

A replica of Fenway Park's Green Monster highlights the field on which the tournament will be held. Also, two other fields, created by an uncle of Russell's, will be used to accommodate the expected large turnout.

Hayes encourages interested people to come and support the cause while having fun.

"All you need is yourself and three friends," he said. "If you don't have a team, we have the home run derby."

"It's great to see how far-reaching it is," Hayes said. "Between the connections that I have and the connections that Troy and Austin had, we get a lot of the same people and new people every year."

Half of the proceeds go to Russell's family for his care, and half goes to a scholarship fund in Tautkus' name.

The tournament will be held July 15-17 at 18 Brookfield Dr. in Ellington.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/events/1605864289711888/.