TRS’ Nathan Schmidt slides safely into 3rd base as Slap A Ho 3rd baseman Kevin Scoggins tries to make the tag. Andersen photo.

LINCOLN, CA - Keith DeGeorge decided to honor close friend and softball supporter Paul Sonner with a tournament, and so the DeMarini/Akadema NIT Paul Sonner Memorial Tournament was held over the May 15-16 weekend. “I met Paul 15 years ago when I was running tournaments for NSA and got to know him more over the years” said DeGeorge. “He was a great person, friend, family man and coach/sponsor. It’s hard to find people like Paul who did so much for a single sport.”

This was the 1st year for the Paul Sonner Memorial Tournament which is a tribute to the Bully’s Bar & Grill owner who passed away a few months back unexpectedly. “Paul was a huge supporter of slow pitch softball in all Associations and has had his team win Nationals at multiple levels. If it was not for coach/sponsors like Paul softball on the West Coast would not be what it is today,” stated DeGeorge.

“It was a great day with a lot of great games in the C/D NIT division,” said DeGeorge. The championship game went down to the last inning with the home Team, Powerzone, winning with a walk off base hit to score the tie breaking run over second place finisher Softball Junkies/B Gross Apparel. In the League “E” Division, first place went to Slap A Ho Tribe with Hardknox finishing in second place.

“Sponsors like Paul Sonner have given the opportunity for young athletes to showcase their talent at many different levels and we will greatly miss him and what he has done for the sport,” said DeGeorge. “I will continue to run the Annual Paul Sooner Memorial in his memory. Next year I am looking to move this event to Nevada where Paul’s sports bar & grill restaurants are and where Paul is from. Hopefully the tournament will grow and add more teams every year because without sponsors like Paul softball would not be what it is today on the west coast.”