Saluting A National Champion

The Nebraska Barons won their third national wheelchair softball championship in the past five years with a 10-8 win over the defending champion St. Paul Saints at the annual National Wheelchair Softball Tournament recently held in St. Paul, MN. The Barons’ hit a tournament record 10 home runs and had to defeat the teams finishing 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th place to win the title. Five Barons were voted to the 10 member All-Tournament team highlighted by Brent Rasmussen’s selection as the tournament MVP (his second) and as all tournament left fielder. Brent finished the tournament batting 10 for 12 (833% avg) with six home runs, two doubles, and 18 intentional walks. His six home runs were an all time national tournament record. The Barons finished their championship season with a 27-3 record.

The Jr. Barons finished second place in the first Jr. National tournament ever held. Eleven Jr. Barons represented the Barons in this exciting tournament, with three Jr. Barons being selected to the All Tournament team.

The Barons are sponsored by the Eastern Nebraska Wheelchair Athletic Association (ENWAA). www.enwaa.org ENWAA provides athletic opportunities for disabled children and adults in the Omaha, Ne. area. These opportunities include instruction, team organization, practice facilities, athletic equipment, registration fees, uniforms, travel expenses, team and individual awards, and much more. Softball, basketball, quadriplegic rugby, and sitting volleyball are examples of sports organized and sponsored by ENWAA.