University of Southern Indiana Softball will play for some special causes April 2-3 when it hosts the University of Indianapolis and Saint Joseph’s College at the USI Softball Field.
The Screaming Eagles’ doubleheader with the Greyhounds of UIndy on April 2 is USI’s Awareness Day, while the Eagles will “Play for Kate†April 3 when they host the Pumas of Saint Joseph’s for a doubleheader.
“We Play for…†(Awareness Day)
Awareness Day is a day where players and coaches for USI and UIndy have the opportunity to play for someone they love or know that has been affected by disease, illness, handicap, or other special cause, such as cancer awareness or heart disease. Every player and coach for USI and UIndy will be wearing colored ribbon representing the person they are honoring that day.
Each year, the Eagles make an effort, as a team, to honor someone within their softball family. This year, USI will wear T-shirts for Vicky Tuggle, the grandmother of senior infielder Toni Braun (Evanston, Indiana).
Tuggle has battled illness and paralysis throughout the last three years to prove that, with love, strength, and a great sense of humor, you can survive.
“Play for Kateâ€
On July 26, 2015, Kate Bruggenschmidt, a young lady in the softball community, was tragically killed in an ATV accident. She was 11 years old and a member of the local travel team, The Bomb Squad.
The softball family throughout the state of Indiana and beyond has rallied around her family to help hold events to raise benefits in her memory. Several benefits helped raise money for the new playground in Evansville that is being built in her name, and area scholarships honoring her, all of which is a part of the mission to “Play for Kateâ€.
Kate’s family will be in attendance for the doubleheader and her younger sister, Emma, will throw out the first pitch and be an honorary bat girl. USI players and coaches also will be wearing ribbons and bright green bracelets.
