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Offense Bests Defense 32-31 In Second Annual Brett Favre Celebrity Softball Game
posted 06/10/01
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| Mark Tauscher crushes a home run at Fox Cities Stadium. |
Photo Gallery
The dreary drizzle that coated the fields of Fox Cities Stadium couldn't suffocate the bright, optimistic moods that accompanied the Green Bay Packer Players that came to play on Sunday, June 10, 2001, for Brett Favre's Second Annual Celebrity Softball Game. In a high-scoring, back-and-forth contest, the offensive team edged the defensive team, 32-31, scoring eight runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to finish the comeback.
The game's proceeds will go to the Brett Favre Forward Foundation for disabled and disadvantaged children residing in Wisconsin. Bergstrom automotive sponsored the event, showing fans an array of new cars throughout the game.
While the thickening storm moved in on the home of the Timber Rattlers baseball team in Appleton, Wis., star professional football players arrived for what they hoped would be a fun and amusing match up. While the talented players couldn't stop the rain and lightening, they could attract a group of 5,994 hearty fans from a radius of cities around Appleton. While fans showed up as early as 11 a.m. to begin tailgating in the parking lot for the event, the actual game was held off until around 2:30 p.m., when officials deemed the weather "playable."
The game consisted of a matchup between players from the Packers offense and players from the defense, along with a few media celebrities to fill out the sides. Coaching the Packers' offense was Edgar Bennett, a former Green Bay running back and now the club's director of player programs. Vince Workman, another former Packers running back and now weight room assistant, headed up the defense.
The laid-back atmosphere of the game was consummated when a representative of the local oldies radio station showed up riding in on a tan Hummer impersonating Elvis, much to the surprise and enjoyment of the audience. First up to bat, acting as the guest, was the defense. It wasn't long into the top of the first inning, just the third at-bat, when place kicker Ryan Longwell hit his the first of many impressive home runs. Throughout his career Longwell has achieved recognition as the most accurate placekicker in NFL history. Just as on the football field, Longwell also holds his record as most accurate NFL batter. Longwell was able to help his defense out tremendously by hitting a total of three home runs during his six times at bat, the other three being solid hits to land him on first base. Directly following Longwell at bat, punter Josh Bidwell hit his first of two home runs for the defense, showing the attentive fans that kickers had more than one talent.
Quarterback Brett Favre, three time MVP and fan-favorite, hit a pop fly during his first trip to the plate in the bottom of the first inning that was dropped by the defense's second basman, Longwell. The attempted catch was a common error that had the fans amused throughout the game. When catcher Nate Wayne caught Favre's fly ball during the bottom of the sixth inning, the capable linebacker entertained the crown by doing a little dance to show his superiority to Favre's baseball skills. Much to the delight of the dutiful crowd, Favre responded with a playful swing of his baseball bat toward Wayne.
While the game showed the talents of many players at bat, it also showed more than merely physical ability. These players that showed up today demonstrated a group of men willing to take time out of their daily lives to support a grateful charity. Many of the players' families were in attendance, with a select few players' wives playing in the actual game. Players' wives included Trina Wahle, wife of guard and tackle Mike Wahle, Deanna Favre, wife of quarterback Brett Favre, and finally Jeannie Pederson, wife of quarterback Doug Pederson.
Besides seeing the superlative wives that played in the softball game, attendee's of the softball game were also able to view an unusual occurrence. Different from the eight home games played in Lambeau Field every year, the audience often caught sacred glimpses of the true personalities that laid inside the gifted football players so many idolize.
While the home games show dedicated fans the physical talents that leave many awed, they often don't cover the comical personalities showcased during the carefree softball game. For a mere $10, a fan could see the extended physical talents of an admired player, along with the often surprising personality quirks that usually are unseen.
Guard and tackle Mike Wahle showed he was no stranger to humor during the top of the fourth inning while he was playing right field. Wahle showed up for this position with a chair in hand, announcing to a radio personality showcasing the game that he could sit and rest, saying, "the defense is boring and now that Wayne (linebacker Nate Wayne) is up to bat I can relax."
With the game drawing to a close at the bottom of the seventh inning, the offense stepped up to bat needing seven runs to tie and eight to win. They had worked themselves into a 31-24 hole, and were willing to play hard one last inning.
A much desired spot to be at the bottom of the seventh inning would have had to be the offensive dugout, where Coach Bennett must have given a great motivating speech to put a newfound drive into tackle Mark Tauscher.
Tauscher, third at bat in this inning, put his entire 313 pound frame into the softball that sailed over the homestretch for the only "real" home run of the entire game. Tauscher's remarkable hit not only soared over the shorter fences set up for softball regulations, but also cleared Fox Cities Stadium's right field wall over the 325-foot mark.
A standing ovation from the crowd and the entire offensive team greeted Tauscher at home plate, while announcer Bill Scott remarked his amazement at the former Wisconsin Badger's ability to connect with the water-logged softball hard enough to send it sailing that far.
Two at-bats later, guard Marco Rivera hit a home run, bringing in two other players. Not to be outdone, Brett Favre followed shortly with his second home run to tie up the game. Much like Tauscher, the offense was able to put in that last effort needed to come out victorious, with the final play of the game consisting of Wahle's second home run to win the contest.
By the end of the game, while the sun was breaking through the storm clouds, the players and fans reflected on a worthwhile and productive day. The Packers peeked through the clouds of a non-playoff previous season, emerging to fans as a confident, unyielding team looking forward to the 2001 season.
Fans witnessed players take part in a fulfilling day by helping Favre lend a hand to his charity and sharing laughs amongst each other. Also observed was further bonding shared by a tight-knit team and lasting memories of the individual personalities of football players turned slugger for a day.
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