Welcome to the Jakob S. Gehring Memorial Wood Bat Tournament.
In 2011 we changed the name of this event to honor a young man whose life ended prematurely. Jake Gehring was a 16 yr old honor student and athlete that attended Stow HS. We at Team Sports had the pleasure to coach Jake in Travel Baseball and it is with great enthusiasm that we host this tournament in Jake's honor. Jake had a tremendous passion for the game of baseball and he played every game as if it was his last. He was a pleasure to coach, fun to watch, and most importantly a good teammate. We were saddened by his death, but inspired through remembrance .
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December 1st, 2004 is a day for remembrance for many people across the Akron area. A young 16 year old boy by the name of Jakob Gehring lost his life in a fatal car accident. He was a selfless, kind, caring individual who made one poor choice which dramatically changed the lives of hundreds of people. Family, friends, acquaintances, and even strangers rallied together during such a difficult time while vowing to not let such a loving soul leave this earth in vain.
The Jakob S. Gehring Memorial Wood Bat Tournament is held in July of each summer to remember the passion Jakob had for the game of baseball. This tournament gives coaches, players, and families a chance to participate in a legacy. Jakob’s legacy is more than just a game of baseball. This tournament serves as a reminder to make the right choices, on and off the field.
The concession proceeds this tournament generates assist in supporting local athletics and other programs such as Hitting 4 Home. Hitting 4 Home is a non-profit organization that was founded because of Jakob Gehring and the impact his life had on the surrounding communities. This organization is made up of close to 100 high school students who travel to the local middle school to speak to students about the importance of making responsible decisions. The members of this group have been able to effectively reach these students with this message by using personal testimonials and reflecting upon the consequences of Jakob’s decision regarding the car accident. Hitting 4 Home members will be serving concessions during the tournament in an effort to help raise funds for better awareness campaigns in the northeast Ohio area. More information can be found about this organization at www.hitting4home.com .
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As with all Team Sports events the tournament will be well organized with timely communication, be played at quality facilities, and have the top umpires in youth baseball, sanctioned and assigned through the Game Hogz Umpiring School.
The 14u 60/90 age group will have a 3 game minimum. The 15u ,16u, and 18u age groups will play a 4 game minimum. Umpire fees are included in the entry fee. Teams will supply their own wood bats ( composite bats are legal ). The host sites are Thurman Munson Stadium, Kent State University, Akron University and top high school facilities in the Akron - Canton area.
Team and Individual awards for 1st and 2nd place.
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