Team to play in Brevard for second consecutive year
By Chris Fish
cfish@hometownnewsol.com
BREVARD -- A softball team, which consists of a group of wounded veterans, will stop in Brevard County on Saturday, Feb. 23 for a doubleheader against the Brevard Super Senior All-Star team.
The Wounded Warriors Amputee Softball Team, an organization that hopes to raise public awareness and aid for the needs of injured service members, is currently training with the Washington Nationals baseball team and will be stopping in Brevard for the second year in a row.
The game, which will be held at 7 p.m. at Palm Bay Regional Park, is free to the public, but donations are accepted and appreciated, organizers said.
David Van Sleet, CEO and general manager of the Wounded Warriors Amputee Softball Team, said he hopes the public will come and show support for the wounded veterans.
"These guys are literally heroes," he said. "These guys suffered serious injury defending over in Iraq and Afghanistan, but they have gone through rehabilitation to live a normal life and play a sport they have always loved."
Mr. Van Sleet said he created the organization more than two years ago, as a way to help these soldiers. Since its inception, the organization has traveled to 47 different cities in 18 states across the United States.
Mr. Van Sleet said the team is currently booked for the remainder of 2013.
Organizers said the team is comprised of young, competitive veterans, who lost limps in post-9/11 wars and military conflicts. The team includes members with a variety of amputations, including arm, above knee, below knee, bilateral below knee and foot.
The Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team is partnered with the Washington Nationals baseball team, Louisville Slugger, Boombah and others.
For more information, visit www.woundedwarrioramputeesoftballteam.org.