By Bre Nichols
Reporter
Sigma Phi Epsilon and the Interfraternity Council will present a softball tournament for members of Baylor sororities and fraternities next weekend to support Sigma Phi Epsilon’s local philanthropy, Fisher House.
Fisher House is an organization that provides a place to stay for veterans and military families receiving treatment at military medical centers at little to no cost for lodging.
The SigEp Series will begin at 9 a.m. both March 31 and April 1 at Amsler Park in McGregor, off of Highway 317. A championship game will take place Sunday, and the winners will receive a prize donation of $200 for a philanthropy of their choosing.
Fraternities and sororities can sign up teams through Thursday by emailing Reece_Beall@baylor.edu.
Plano junior and Sigma Phi Epsilon president Reece Beall said he had been considering doing a philanthropy event since last year, in hopes of bringing more attention to Fisher House.
He said the fraternity hopes to create an event where Greek organizations can get together and have fun while raising money for the philanthropy.
Houston junior and IFC president T.J. Partida said the council thought the SigEp Series would be a great way to encourage interaction between Greek organizations.
“I am personally hoping the event will be a great time for everyone participating, and a chance for a lot of Greeks to mix and mingle with each other,” Partida said.
Beall said he hopes the event will expand to include more organizations in the future.
“Hopefully it will get bigger and bigger each year,” Beall said.
Sigma Phi Epsilon’s main goal for the event is to get its name out on campus and raise funds for Fisher House, which alumni have been supporting since 2009, Beall said.
“One of our alumni died in Iraq, and so each year, our alumni come to Waco and put on a golf tournament for our fraternity members to raise money for that charity,” Beall said. “This softball tournament gives us a chance to do something for that philanthropy as well.”
In the tournament, there will be a women’s and a men’s bracket, with each team consisting of a minimum of 10 players.
The cost to enter is $10 per person, which includes food, drink and a baseball T-shirt with each individual sorority’s or fraternity’s name on the back. Each team is also guaranteed to play at least three games, with the chance to advance after each win.
“Since it’s meant to be an all-day event, we will be providing ballpark-themed foods, such as hot dogs and hamburgers, water and Gatorade for the guys and girls,” Beall said.
Beall said Sigma Phi Epsilon wants to encourage fraternities to bring their cookers and tailgate games, such as Cornhole and Frisbee, so everyone will be entertained.
Partida said the tournament has an importance beyond softball.
“Besides the fact that a softball tournament for Greeks is being started, the tournament sponsors fellowship among Greeks and raises money for American veterans in need,” Partida said.
