Rodd's Ramblings: Goodbye to event honoring Ashley

On April 14, 2000, a vehicle carrying Tom and Marcia Braun and their family, and children who were friends of the family rolled over in Illinois as the group was headed for Florida for a vacation. Both Tom and Marcia died in the crash, as did family friend 13-year-old Ashley Abrahamson.

The tragedy shook the community, and yet also brought it together to help both families deal with the horrific event.

A few months later, the Cloquet Area Youth Baseball/Softball board elected to name the new softball and baseball complex in Cloquet's Hilltop neighborhood the Braun Field Complex. A playground was also installed and named Ashley's Playground in honor of Ashley. That same summer, Ron Tondryk, who is now the head softball coach at Cloquet High School, decided to ask the Abrahamsons if they would be interested in allowing him to host a tournament in Ashley's name. The answer was a resounding yes.

This weekend will mark the 20th and final year for the tournament.

In the summer of 2000, Ron and I were set to coach two teams, one a U-12 group, the other a U-14 team. Ashley was set to play on our U-12 team. The U-12 girls spent a lot of time together that summer talking about the tragedy and how they were dealing with it in their own ways. Each game ended with our team gathering around Ashley's jersey and giving her a cheer. Oftentimes other teams would join us even though they did not know Ashley. It was part of the healing process for the kids, parents and coaches.

While coaching two teams, Tondryk continued to work to put together a tournament to honor Ashley. The tournament took off and teams gravitated to the tournament for a number of reasons. Ron also came up with the idea of giving an award to one player on each team who exemplified the traits that Ashley stood for.

It was an honor to receive the award. To this day, the tournament's biggest cheers are when the Ashley Award winners are announced.

Jim and Kathy Abrahamson have faithfully attended the tournament and help hand out the shirts and awards.

I don't think people understand how tough it is to put a tournament together; most people who put one together do so for a year or two before moving on to other things. Once Ron's youngest daughter, Sarah, graduated from high school, she stepped in to help as a tournament co-director and has been involved ever since. Sarah was a friend of Ashley's, and a pitcher on the team that Ashley would have played on that summer.

But all good things must end and, at this point, this weekend will mark the final Ashley Abrahamson Memorial Softball Tournament.

I am sure it was a tough decision.

Yes, it will be tough to see the tournament end, but I look at all the cherished memories from the park over the past 20 years, as well as the money raised by the Abrahamson family for scholarships in Ashley's name. All those things will live on. The unity of the softball community and the love shown by everyone will live on. These are the things that I will never forget.

I would like to say a big thank-you to the Abrahamson family for their willingness to be at the tournament all day, both days of the event. Also, special thanks for their efforts to help others through their daughter's name and legacy. The grace with which the family has handled this whole situation has been something we can all learn from.

Finally, I would like to say a huge thank-you to Ron and Sarah, and all the people who have volunteered throughout the years to help put on this event and make it a truly great experience. You all should be proud of your efforts, and should take great pride in making this a true memorial to Ashley Abrahamson.

WKLK radio personality Kerry Rodd writes sports stories for the Pine Knot News.