The Shisler Strong Foundation hosted its first charity softball tournament on Aug. 3 at Stauffer Fields to pay tribute to late Deptford officer Robert “Bobby” Shisler and raise funds for law enforcement-based scholarships.
Two Deptford High School graduates majoring in criminal justice got scholarships and an alternate route scholarship went to the Gloucester County Police Academy. Another award went to a member of the supervisory staff at the police department for a command and leadership course.
About 500 participants and 30 teams turned out for the tournament, according to the foundation’s Dave Kryszczak. Though play ended early due to rain, it was described by planners as a success.
“The support on Facebook and all that was just amazing,” Kryszczak said. “You got police, non-police, fire, you got military units, you got everything. It’s great.”
Top-performing teams included Grand Slam Entertainment, which went 3-0 and scored 59 runs; the Jawns, who were 3-0 with 43 runs; and Vineland police who went 3-0 with 44 runs.
The games were preceded by an opening ceremony speech by Ed Crawford, a tournament staff member.
“As many of you know,” he noted, “Bobby Shisler was a catcher for Deptford High School’s baseball team and volunteered his time to coach after graduating. This event today honors the legacy of Bobby, who made the ultimate sacrifice in serving as an officer for the Deptford Township Police Department.
“The Shisler Strong Foundation is dedicated to ensuring our valued law-enforcement community has the resources and tools it needs to perform at the highest level.”
Shisler’s family and some of his colleagues were among volunteers for the event. Besides softball, guest were able to buy T-shirts designed by Deptford High junior Joey Nicholas that featured the words “Shisler Strong” on the front, and a picture of Shisler holding a bat and his badge number, 5273, on the back.
Career township firefighters cooked food and served up pulled pork platters and assorted barbecue foods while Project Refit, a nonprofit dedicated to helping military veterans, sold drinks.
The Shisler Strong Foundation plans on having a tournament next year that it will begin planning for in September.
“We’re trying not to over-complicate it for the first year,” Kryszczak said, “and then we can learn and build for the next.”
