It is not often anyone passes away playing the sport they enjoy the most.
For Mike Sommers, that is a reality not easy to cope with. Recently, he is currently attempting to pick himself up after the loss of a family relative.
His cousin, T.J. passed away at age 29 while participating in a church softball intramural game at the Allerton Sports Complex and ball fields on the Kent State University campus. Mike is still upset about the loss of his cousin.
“As soon as the doctors said that he was in critical condition, I was angry that I was not there with him as my son had a tee ball game that night. I just feel bad for his family,” a despondent Mike Sommers said. “It's tough to see a family give so much and then have something taken away from them.”
A devout Christian, T.J. Attended Hartville Christian School, a Mennonite-based school not known for possessing organized sports. That didn't deter him from playing the game he embraced as his own.
That prompted Mike to organize a softball tournament to assist in covering the funeral and other expenses this Aug. 8 at the same venue where T.J. played his final softball game.
It is only proper the T.J. Sommers Memorial Softball Tournament honors his life in an honorable way that would make him proud.
“On the day of the tournament, we want it to be a lot of fun. We all want to remember him for his family. We don't want this to be a somber event. It will be an emotional night but we want to remember him in a fun way,” Mike said. “He loved softball and has played it since he was a kid. This is the right way to honor T.J.'s memory.”
Aside from his softball prowess, T.J. also possessed qualities away from the playing diamond that cannot be overlooked. He was known for having a good time in life wherever he went but also for his honesty and working hard in anything he set out to accomplish.
Being a father of two boys and a daughter, Mike wants his children to learn from this life-altering experience while they are young.
“I know that I want my kids to be able to live life to the fullest. There are a lot of people who live life that, even though it may not be large, they still find a way to make things happen,” he said. “A lot can be attained in life.”
During this arduous time for the family, Mike cannot help but be touched by just how the Christian community has banded together as one to help him overcome this tragedy. A lot of that has to do with the nature of people living in Lake Township.
Current Lake High School basketball head coach Tom McBride once hinted at the strong trait of Christianity and it's values during his 10 years as a resident in Hartville in a past story in The Suburbanite.
Those values have once again become the forefront of helping others in need. No one appreciates it more than Mike Sommers.
“I will always be humbled by the Christian community for how they have come together to help us in our time of need. We are very thankful of that,” he said.
The Sommers Memorial Softball Tournament will feature 28 participating teams in a double elimination contest. The deadline for registration is July 25. There will be a minimum $200 tax deductible donation. For more information on registration or on being a tournament sponsor, persons interested can contact Mr. Sommers at 330-704-7180 or email at Mikes@starkdd.com or tournament director Geoff Miller 330-805-0303 or email at Geoff@rembrandthomesinc.com.
