By Dan Hardenbrook
The Cabin Fever Cornhole Tournament, a premier local event and a major fundraiser for the Newberry American Legion and High School Baseball teams, will take place Saturday, February 17 at the American Legion Post 74 in Newberry. It’s the 10th year for the event.
Registration for the tournament, which offers “summer fun in the winter for all ages” is open now through February 14.
The Cabin Fever Cornhole Tournament was the brainchild of former Assistant Coach Matt Edison, who capitalized on the growing interest in the popular yard game by creating a tournament style event to raise funds for the local baseball programs. Due to its early success, an American Legion Baseball group formed locally in Newberry and many field and equipment upgrades were made to the high school field at the Charles Road complex.
“This is truly a community wide event,” says longtime Coach of both the Newberry High School and American Legion Baseball teams and event organizer Jason Tokar. “This may be a fundraiser for the kids and the programs, but the entire community has really embraced it and made it an annual tradition.”
The tournament has run consecutively every year on the same Saturday in February except during the Covid pandemic, when restrictions prohibited gatherings.
“In some years we have had as many as 90+ teams,” says Tokar. “You take nearly 200 players and the large number of spectators who come out and watch the games while supporting the raffles and drawings, and this is a pretty big event, one of the largest in the area each year.”
The tournament continues to thrive thanks to the community support – it’s local baseball’s single largest fundraiser.
“Last year we were right around 60 teams, and really that 64-team bracket makes it almost the perfect size,” Tokar said. “A ton of people still come out and support the event even if they aren’t playing. Every year it keeps getting better and better, and even last year, with a little bit fewer teams it was one of the best years we’ve had.”
Newberry High School Varsity and American Legion Coach Dan Hardenbrook, a former player and assistant under Tokar, has seen firsthand the impact the event has had on the program.
“There would not be baseball in Newberry without it,” Hardenbrook said. “Once kids hit a certain age and move on from Little League or 4H this is it—this is their only opportunity to play unless they want to travel. When Jason and Matt started the American Legion program, it became a great opportunity and it’s also been a great benefit to the high school program. None of that would be possible without this event.”
Doors will open at 10:30 a.m., and the first round of games starts shortly thereafter. The day’s activities will also include basket raffles, 50/50 drawings, a silent and live auction, and other special raffles. There will be a full concession on site and the American Legion will be open to the public.
Registration for the double elimination tournament is $50 per team, and forms are available at several local businesses. Registration forms can be dropped off at The Newberry News, The American Legion Post 74, 1450 WNBY, and Pickleman’s Total One Stop.
For more information, contact Jason Tokar at (906) 440-1348 or Dan Hardenbrook at (906) 450-2750.
