A4 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2017
Our Community
All-stars advance to San Jose
Community donations
needed to pay for team’s
travel to regional tourney
Watermelon Festival offers
slice of fun in the sun
By TAMMY MALGESINI
COMMUNITY EDITOR
By TAMMY MALGESINI
COMMUNITY EDITOR
The Hermiston Junior Little
League all-stars are teaming up
with the community to continue
their winning ways.
Earlier this month, the baseball
team, which plays in the 13-14 age
division, won the Oregon District 3
Tournament in John Day. Then, the
team took the championship trophy
at the Oregon State Little League
Tournament July 15-18 in Bend.
In addition to the state title, the
win makes the team eligible for
the West Regional Tournament,
which is July 31 to Aug. 7 in San
Jose. The expenses for the trip are
anticipated to be fairly high, said
Kelly Schwirse, wife of manager
Jeff Schwirse.
The team, Schwirse said
last week, was looking to raise
$20,000. The goal is to raise
enough money to pay for transpor-
tation, lodging and meals for the
entire team, she said.
Due to the short time-frame,
Schwirse said coordinating fund-
raising events has been difficult.
However, individuals and busi-
nesses have stepped up to the
plate.
“The community has been
amazing,” she said. “People are
just very generous. We live in a re-
ally special place.”
The once-in-a-lifetime experi-
ence features televised games on
ESPN3, as they play other teams
from across the Western United
States. Their first game is Tues-
day, Aug. 1, at 2 p.m. The winner
of the tournament in San Jose will
go on to the Junior World Series.
Jeff Schwirse has been involved
at the coaching level with the all-
stars for 14 seasons. While he’s
E-mail your community news items to:
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PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY KELLY SCHWIRSE
The Hermiston Junior Little League baseball team proudly displays the banner
for winning the Oregon State Little League Tournament July 15-18 in Bend. The
team is raising money for the West Regional Tournament, which is July 31 to
Aug. 7 in San Jose.
taken three other teams to the state
tournament, Kelly Schwirse said
this is the first time a team has
brought home the big trophy. The
coaching staff also includes Ladd
Edmiston and Tyler Schwirse.
A core group of six players —
Sam Schwirse, Rustin Edmiston,
Carter Tolan, Spencer Juul, Gavin
Hunter, Ethin Randolph — have
taken the field together since 2013
when they were 10 years old and
placed fourth in the state tourna-
ment. They won the state title the
following year as 11 year olds,
Schwirse said. The rest of the
2017 team includes Angel Barron,
Chase Harshfield, Trevor Wagner,
Darius Jones and Alexis Rosales.
“The kids are just pumped,”
Schwirse said. “This has been an
end goal or dream for them.”
After this season, the team
members are done with Little
League, she said, as they move
up to playing high school ball.
A trip to the larger tournament,
Schwirse said, is what the group
has been swinging for since they
first picked up their gloves several
years ago.
Donations are tax deduct-
ible. People are asked to make
ALL NEW 2017
RAV4’S IN STOCK
$
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY KELLY SCHWIRSE
Members of the Hermiston Junior
Little League baseball team watches
from the bench during the Oregon
State Little League Tournament July
15-18 in Bend.
checks payable to Hermiston Lit-
tle League. They can be dropped
off at the Hermiston Chamber of
Commerce, 415 S. Highway 395,
made online via www.youcaring.
com/hermistonlittleleaguejunior-
sallstarteam-882369 or sent to
Hermiston Little League, P.O. Box
1034, Hermiston, OR 97838.
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Watermelons and more
are featured during the 33rd
annual Irrigon Watermelon
Festival.
The event kicks off Sat-
urday from 6:30-10 a.m.
with a breakfast hosted by
the Irrigon Moose Lodge
at Irrigon Marina Park.
There’s a downtown parade
at 10 a.m. — which will
wind its way back to the
marina park where the fam-
ily-friendly event runs all
day and into the night.
“We’re trying to get the
community involved,” said
Charlene Cooley. “It’s a
fun way to build a sense of
community.”
While there is no admis-
sion fee for the event, peo-
ple should bring a hearty
appetite and some extra
change. Food and craft
vendors will be available
throughout the day. And,
slices of watermelon are 50
cents each.
Festival-goers will have
several ways to beat the
heat. A water slide and
dunk tank will provide op-
portunities to get wet. In
addition, people can take
boat rides with the Morrow
County Sheriff’s Office.
In addition, Cooley said
a LifeFlight medical heli-
copter will land at 12:30
p.m. People can take tours
and learn more about their
services. Also, local fire-
fighters and paramedics
will be on hand and using
the landing as a live drill to
improve their skills.
“It will be neat for peo-
ple to see our first respond-
ers in action,” Cooley said.
There are several chanc-
es to win cash and prizes.
The 50/50 raffle has been
combined with the event’s
commemorative
button.
People who buy an Irrigon
Watermelon Festival button
for $2 will have a chance to
win half the pot. Also, raffle
tickets are $1 each or six for
$5. Raffle items include gift
certificates from area busi-
nesses, Tri-City Dust Devil
tickets, a sightseeing cruise
for two from the Portland
Spirit, tickets to Silverwood
Theme Park and more.
Stage
entertainment
features regional talents,
including the Irrigon High
School cheerleaders &
Gems Cheer, Lindzoolie
Singers, the Missy G Band,
the Coyote Dancers, Aly the
Traveling Marimba Busker
and Brass Fire. In addition,
there will be a community
lip sync contest (1 p.m.) and
a city leader seed spitting
contest (3:45 p.m.). The city
of Irrigon has thrown down
the gauntlet — challenging
the mayors from eight sur-
rounding communities for
bragging rights.
The day crescendos with
a street dance from 9 p.m.
to midnight. DJ Jeff Richie
will be behind the mic.
Derrick Kestler is get-
ting revved up for a great
car show during the event.
He invites people to join
the parade and then display
their vehicle for the show.
The participation fee is $15
with registration from 9
a.m. to noon. There are mul-
tiple categories and trophy
presentations will be made
at 3 p.m. For more about
the car show, call Kestler at
541-571-0421.
For more information,
visit www.facebook.com/
irrigonwatermelonfestival.
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