Three Crookston residents and one Grand Forks man competed with the Minnesota Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) wheelchair softball team in the 34th annual Division II National Wheelchair Softball Tournament (NWST) at Citi Field, home of the New York Mets in Flushing, N.Y.
Donovan Hoffman, Nik Johnson and Shannon Gladue, all of Crookston, and Craig Charbonneau of Grand Forks competed in the tournament that took place August 18-21.
The Minnesota PVA took fifth place with a 10-9 win over the Nassau Aviators, New York in the fifth place game and finished with a record of 3-4.
Hoffman is the centerfielder, Johnson plays right field, Charbonneau is the rover and Gladue pitches.
Johnson missed being Rookie of the Year by two votes, while all four local players received votes for the all-tournament team.
The tournament was made up of 14 teams and was played on six diamonds in the parking lot of Citi Field.
"We had a lot of fun and saw a lot of good softball," said Gladue.
It was Gladue and Charbonneau's fourth straight year competing the national tournament. The first year they didn't place, the second they took 13th and last year they got 11th.
When asked if they're planning on going to make it five straight years, Gladue said, "We're hoping so, we alway hope for that."
If you are disabled and are unable to play able-bodied sports and would like to play wheelchair sports contact Shannon Gladue at 281-1440 and get involved in the Wallbanger Wheelchair Athletic Program. They compete in basketball, softball and track & field.
