August is SMA Awareness month, and as such the first independently held Team Aubree Softball Tournament got underway August 13 through the 15 at Lotz Park in Boyd. Bob Geist played the role of umpire, while softball team names included Sophi’s Warriors, Team Aubree, United We Stand, Sophi’s Sunflower Kisses, and Bad Intentions, among others. Team Aubree members Deanne LeTendre and Kayla Weltzin filled us in on the registered 501c3 non-profit and the reasons for the softball tournament. The first was Deanne’s daughter Aubree LeTendre Prior to passing in February 2019, Team Aubree’s namesake Aubree LeTendre suffered from SMA and was on a drug called Spinraza to help treat the disease. Spinal Muscular Atrophy causes deterioration of the muscles and is currently uncurable—but there is hope.

A new drug named Zolgensma exists that seeks to reverse the muscle degeneration caused by SMA. There is also early screening for babies now “in almost every state” it was shared, the screening meant to give a head start on treating the SMA, before muscle deterioration sets in. Regarding tournament support, the sponsors came in for special mention.

“The sponsors, our friends,” Kayla (Deanne’s sister) said when asked what it took to put something like the tournament together, along with “months of organization,” Deanne added There were also some sponsored softball teams.

We do have a few sponsored teams,” Kayla (Deanne’s sister) shared of the Lotz Park tournament, adding that they were sponsoring the team Sophi’s Warriors while Boyd Little League was sponsoring Sophi’s Sunflower Kisses, both named for Sophi Sanchez, who passed away late last year.

Proceeds from the Team Aubree tournament will be donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), Ronald McDonald Association, and the Children’s Hospital of Milwaukee. So why softball?

“All the kids were in sports,” Deanne shared of growing up in the Fredrickson family with parents Roy and Linda Fredrickson. Parents were as well, it seemed.

“I played softball from 16 until I was 40,” Roy shared, adding that he was told he was too old then.

“He was the first person to hit a home run in Canada,” wife Linda added. As to the first annual Lotz Park tournament, it had

See TEAM AUBREE, page 11

Shown left to right for Team Aubree are: Karen Heuer; Kayla Weltzin; Chad Girard; Deanne and Adam LeTendre; Roy Fredrickson; Linda Fredrickson; and Jenny Oemig. Photo by Joseph Back. TEAM AUBREE

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to do in part with branching out.

“We did it two years ago with the Lions,” Deanne shared of the sports event held to help bring awareness to and fight Spinal Muscular Atrophy, or SMA. “And we wanted to branch out on our own,” she said. As to the softball tournament results, this is how it turned out when the dust settled.

In fourth place for the first annual Team Aubree Softball Tournament was A & A Tire, while Team Aubree took third place and Double D’s took second place. The team Bad Intentions placed first, while the walk and tournament were combined this year. Along with the tournament itself was a raffle that included a signed basketball from the Milwaukee Bucks.