GENTRY — Anyone walking or driving past the Carl Gym on Saturday night was likely to hear the noise of rooting and cheering inside, but it wasn’t for a hotly contested basketball game even though the cheering and laughter were loud. Rather, it was for teammates playing bean-bag baseball.
Eight teams were playing for the championship in the special tournament held Saturday night - teams from the Gentry Police Department, Gentry Fire Department, Gentry Primary School, Lions Club, Masonic Lodge, Gentry High School cheerleaders, high school members of the National Honor Society, and the Gentry Senior Activity Center’s Hillsteppers.
Players tossed bean bags at a wooden target with holes cut for home runs, base hits and outs and then moved around the bases - chairs set up around the mini diamonds - hoping their teammates would get them home.
And those with the most experience prevailed. The SAC Hillsteppers took first place in the tournament, followed by the Masonic Lodge in second and the police department in third.
The evening event was a fundraiser for the GentrySenior Activity Center, with money collected used to help out with the senior meals program.
Though it was hopedmore would come out to watch the teams play, the night was still a success and a lot of fun for those who participated.
Almost $400 was raised on Saturday, according to Jackie Bader, the Gentry Senior Activity Center's manager.
Community, Pages 2 on 05/05/2010