The Sam McQuade Sr. softball tournament is an annual charity softball event held in the Bismarck–Mandan area of North Dakota. Officially the "Sam McQuade Sr./Budweiser Charity Softball Tournament", this event draws approximately 400 teams from the United States and Canada areas, as well as roughly 15,000 fans that attend the event.[1] The event is hosted at several softball complexes around the Bismarck-Mandan area every June, and claims to be the largest charity softball event in the world.[2]

History

The Sam McQuade Sr. softball tournament is a non-profit, one-weekend slow-pitch softball tournament founded in 1976 by Sam McQuade Sr. of McQuade Distributing Co., Inc., the local distributor of Budweiser beer of the Bismarck–Mandan Area. The father of a special needs son, McQuade was aware of the financial challenges of local charities and organizations. The first year of the tournament raised over $1,000 and brought 103 teams in 4 divisions to Bismarck, ND. The event grew to over 400 teams in 13 divisions and raised over $30,000 in total donations in 1992, the year McQuade died. In 2009, the tournament raised over $75,000. Today, the tournament is run by a Board of Directors, which includes Sam McQuade Jr., his daughter Shannon McQuade-Ely and several other community leaders.[3]

Teams

Teams have come from neighboring states, such as Minnesota, South Dakota, and Montana; and as far away as Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Washington state and Wyoming. Teams also come from 2 Canadian provinces. In addition, the tournament also helped sponsor international divisions in 2006 in Bosnia, three in Baghdad (2007, 2008 & 2009), and one in Kosovo in 2010. The tournament also showcases the North Dakota Military All Stars team, which includes active and retired military members.[4] All of the proceeds benefit local charities and organizations, especially those that help run the tournament.[3]

Champions

2015 tournament champions

Division Team City
Men's A / Supers Long Haul / Hortenbach Auto / Easton Cicero, New York
Men's C Corral / Grind Athletics / Bud Lt / Heart River Bismarck, North Dakota
Men's D Quality Alignment / NuBar Valley City, North Dakota
Men's Rec 1 Berger Chiropractic Mandan, North Dakota
Men's Rec 2 Center Merchants Center, North Dakota
Men's Rec 3 (Budweiser) Warning Track Power Bismarck, North Dakota
Men's Rec 3 (Bud Light) Wings & Rings / Shuler Repair Minot, North Dakota
Men's Rec 4 Lovable Losers Gilbert, Arizona
Masters 35-49 (Michelob Ultra) All Airforce Alumni Converse, Texas
Masters 35-49 (Michelob Amber Bock) Wild Bills / Bootlegrz Minot, North Dakota
Masters 50 Bellerud Transport Fargo, North Dakota
Women's C/D Amundson Farms / Tharaldson Fargo, North Dakota
Women's Rec 1 Capri Bar Minot, North Dakota
Women's Rec 2 Buffalo Wild Wings / Slater Const. / Bud Light Williston, North Dakota
Women's Rec 3 Prairie Wind / Dinkerson Animal Hospital Minot, North Dakota

References

  1. ↑ "Sam McQuade Sr./ Busweiser Charity Softball Tournament | Travel North Dakota". Legendarynd.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  2. ↑ "SAM MCQUADE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT". Archived from the original on May 17, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "McQuade Distributing Co., Inc - Proud Distributor of Anheuser-Busch, Inc". Mcquades.com. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  4. ↑ Michaels, Shelle (2012-06-09). "ISFAC FACTS: Line up announced for the McQuade's North Dakota Military All Stars Softball Team- vs. Team USA - June 22". Isfac.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
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