Page 5 | Portraits in Steele 2020
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“ t is a huge reunion of players, former players, umpires and fans. This is what makes Corky’s Early Bird one of the best events in the entire country. I look forward to seeing all the friends I have made over the past 30 years of playing softball. This is what it is all about for me. Everyone gets to have a great time, play a game that we all love, and we are proud that the proceeds of the event go towards a great cause.”
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— Loren Dietz Tournament director, Corky’s Early Bird Men’s Softball Classic Dietz. “In August, I start promoting the event again.”
typically submits all of its permit applications in January. This is also when the board of directors holds its annual meeting.
Over the course of the fall and winter, Dietz estimated that on average he’ll spend roughly Three months out, organizers will also start 500 hours planning for Corky’s Early Bird recruiting umpires and trying to secure hotel Men’s Softball Classic year to year. sponsors. In February, waiting list teams find out if they’ve made it in and all participants “Although many vendors and teams are have to provide payment for their entry into the same, every year their contracts are the competition. renewed,” he noted. “Although I have worked to streamline things over the years, For competitors who help clean the up the the tournament continues to grow. When I fields and surrounding areas after games, took over the tournament, we had only 100 the tournament can take care of their league teams. This year we’ll have 204 teams.” entry fees. Dietz also helps sponsor local teams by paying their entry fee if they help After wrapping up last year’s event through out with the logistics of the event. the month of May, Dietz explained that he started promoting this spring’s tournament Finally, in the spring, it’s time for organizers as usual in August. On Sept. 1, he opened up to book entertainment groups and finalize the waiting list for any new teams wanting to the brackets — which Dietz said he typically join in on the action. does in April. Then, at the beginning of May, it’s tournament time. The director noted he’ll As early as October, Dietz explained that usually have around 50 volunteers helpers he’ll typically start talking to vendors and during the competition. sponsors in order to try and secure them for the upcoming year’s event. Then, it’s not until “The tournament pays the City of Owatonna, December and January that he will work on City of Waseca and City of Faribault for getting teams from the previous year entered their parks and recreation grounds crews to back into the system. help keep the fields in top shape,” added Dietz. “They do a great job in all weather Although the tournament is not until the conditions.” first weekend in May, Dietz noted that Corky’s Early Bird Men’s Softball Classic
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