2023’s Second Charity Tournament Concludes in Waterloo Iowa

May 1, 2023

By Nic Francois
Softball News Report

WATERLOO, Iowa – This year’s second charity tournament, run by Jim Bagbey, concluded in Waterloo Iowa, May 18-21.

47 teams from six Midwest states not only competed for the championship places, but played for a good cause. After expenses, remaining revenue are donated to the Kadens Kloset Waterloo and Cedar Falls. Kadens Kloset is a 100% volunteer and donation run not-for-profit organization that assists children in foster care and their foster parents with clothing and other necessities in the Waterloo and Cedar Falls communities and beyond.

Bagbey’s partnership with Kadens Kloset started “three years ago,” according to Jim, “about the time I was getting ready to direct our first Iowa Senior Softball USA qualifiers in West Des Moines in April and Waterloo in May 2021, I was looking at different charity options.”

“We have a very personal family connection with children in foster care," added Jim. His daughter fostered and adopted three kids, Mikey, Salina, and Myles.

"My three youngest grandchildren were first children in foster care and are now a forever part of our family,” said Jim.

Given the Bagbeys’ connection to foster care, Jim was introduced to Kadens Kloset by the Waterloo Softball Association and are now the beneficiaries of both of his Iowa based tournament.

“In 2022, between tournament income and business sponsorships, we were able to give Kadens Kloset over $5,400 for their Humboldt, Ankeny, Waterloo, and Cedar Falls locations. We just finished the two tournaments this year and while the final figures aren’t tallied, I am guessing… that our donations to Kadens Kloset will be close to $7,000 to help the foster parents and the children in their care.”

If you are interested in finding out more about Kadens Kloset please visit: www.kadenskloset.com and sign up your team for the two 2024 Iowa SSUSA Senior Softball charity tournaments next year.

2023 Waterloo, Iowa Senior Open Results:

Men’s 50+ AAA-AA: Priority Construction Services/MN L-jacks 50s, (photo below), second-seeded, fought their way through the elimination bracket to double dip the finalists, MN 50 Core in a narrow championship game, 15-14 and IF game, 22-21. Windy City 50s came in third.

Men’s 50/55+ Major: Due to the mixed age division, Iowa Demons 55 (photo below) took the 55 Major Champion title while the Iowa Demons 50 team took the 50 Major title. Pope Transport 55 (WI) took last place in the three-team bracket.

Men’s 55+ AAA: After losing both of their seeding games, Minnesota Lumberjacks 55s went undefeated in their bracket, claiming first place. Isle Edge Trucking (WI) worked their way through the elimination bracket place second in the Championship game, 12-21. Magic (WI) took third place.

Men’s 60+ AAA: Of the seven teams in the largest bracket of the tournament, the seventh-seeded team, Lumberjacks Red (MN) won every bracket game except their first and even double dipped the finalists, and at the time, undefeated, Free Agents (IL). Team Illinois 60s, which originally defeated the Lumberjack Reds in their first game, lost the 3^rd place game to them, 24-14.

Men’s 60+ Major-Major Plus: Again, due to the mixed age division, Minnesota Merchants were crowned the 60 Major Plus Champions, and Minnesota Premier (photo below) the 60 Major Champions. This meant no championship game was necessary. The Omaha Silver Bullets/Minleon finished third.

Men’s 65+ Major-Major Plus: Pope Transport 65 (WI – Major, photo below), losing their first game to finalists KC Kids 65s (MO), 20-13, rebounded and was able to double dip the Kids 23-21 then 22-13 for the Championship. Originally first-seeded Midwest Prime 65 (IL) claimed third place.

Men’s 70+ AA-AAA-Major: This unique five-team bracket resulted in three championship titles. The Minnesota River Bats won first place in the brackets and were the 70 Major Champions.Oshkosh Ambassadors 70 Red (WI - AAA - photo below) placed second and earned the 70 AAA title and the Minnesota Lumberjacks 70s, third in the brackets, won the 70 AA title.

Men’s 75+ AA-AAA-Major: In this round robin division, Chicago Strikers (photo below) finished as the 75 Major Champions, Minnesota Masters 75s earned the 75 AAA title, and the Minnesota Lumberjacks 75s took the 75 AA title.