Special Olympics softball returns for fourth year
The state Special Olympics softball tournament returns to Oregon for the fourth consecutive year. That’s unprecedented, says organizer Paul Rufus Drake III.

“I did the Special Olympics softball when they held in Ashland and Troy, Ohio, and they used to move it around from year to year,” Drake said. “Everybody just loves it here. They just love it — the love the facility. Years back, they used to put them on fields you wouldn’t even practice a team on.”

The day-long event not only includes bracketed softball tournaments for different divisions, it includes a skilled competition, which is provided in part for athletes who do have the ability to play on a regular softball team.

This year’s tournament is scheduled for September 10 at the William P. Coontz Recreation Complex on Seaman Road. Drake says volunteers are needed.

Drake is seeking local high school softball teams to help out as volunteers, but anyone can volunteer. Open ceremonies are scheduled for 8:45 a.m., but volunteers should arrive by 8:30 a.m.

Drake has always been able to count on one group of volunteers — the Oregon Fire Department.

“The Oregon Fire Department every year has a couple fire department at every venue, but the Oregon fire station has at least one or two firemen or paramedics at every field and they have a rover person. The fire department has just been phenomenal with it. A lot of the guys are the same guys year after year and they love doing it,” Drake said.

Drake, a leading state softball umpire, leads the effort to win the bid, and he is one of five U.S. umpires to travel to Shanghai, China for the World Special Olympics to officiate softball games.

He was also chosen by The Amateur Softball Association of America as one of five umpires in the inaugural Border Battle Men’s Slow Pitch (USA vs. Canada) games on July 18-19, 2009 at the ASA Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City, Okla. The umpires were selected by the National Umpire Staff, while Softball Canada nominated one Canadian umpire who will represent Canada.

Drake, 40, has worked for the City of Oregon street department since 1995. Before that, he worked in the city's parks and recreation department. Drake has also been umpiring baseball and softball games for 28 years.

"I just always had an interest, even as a kid, for umpiring," he said. "I've told people if I had a chance to win the lottery or be a professional umpire, I'd be a professional umpire — even though I could use the money.

"Pretty much all I do now is slow pitch softball and some fast pitch," Drake said. "I got out of baseball for probably 20 years. To me, there's a lot more action in slow pitch. I've played on teams here in Oregon. I like to play, but one of the main reasons I got out of it was you had to have at least 10 players to start a game. Sometimes you'd be short a player and have to forfeit, and that was irritating. It was crazy."

To help with the Special Olympics, Drake can be reached at 419-697-7469 or 419-340-8305.

Youth football championships
The Ohio Athletic Commission will host the Third Annual Youth Football State Championships for fourth through sixth graders (10U and 12U) in five different tackle divisions in Sandusky November 5-6.

The tournament will be limited to the first 40 teams. In its second year, Lorain, Elida, Sidney Lehman and Chillicothe were crowned state championships.

“We are committed to giving all young athletes a chance to compete at large high school venues on field turf,” said Jim Guerra, OAC president. “These events provide the opportunity to compete against teams across the state.”

This year will be the first for youth flag football state championships. Hosted the weekend prior to the tackle event, the flag tournament will include four divisions — second/third grade, fourth grade, fifth grade, and sixth grade.

Last year, the OAC gave more than $5,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors. The OAC offers youth events in football, wrestling, and cheerleading. Visit www.ohioathletics.com or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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