Quite a few exposed derrieres dashed around the softball diamond at Atkinson Park in Ketchum on Saturday. Though many laughed no one was too taken aback. The bared butts were in fact joke shorts that were the costume for the Sun Valley Adaptive Sports Kick Ball team, known as the "Moonin' Militia."
Mountain Adventure Sports hosted the Sixth Annual Adaptive Sports Kick Ball tournament for adults and kids.
"They kind of created this for us and all proceeds go to Adaptive Sports," SVAS Development Director Cara Barrett said. "Every year it's getting bigger and bigger. Atkinsons' Market, Grumpy's and Lefty's all donated so much food. We're so thankful."
The Ketchum based Sun Valley Adaptive Sports offers programs and services for children, teens, adults and veterans covering a wide-range of physical, emotional, developmental, and learning disabilities. Most programs are free or greatly subsidized. There were five participants of Adaptive Sports who played in the tournament and helped at the event: one child from camp, a volunteer, Nathan Smids, who has a prosthetic leg and three adults.
Finishing in first place was Mountain Adventure Tours, second place was the YMCA "Kicksters" and in third place was Whiskeys'.
Naturally, the Moonin' Militia won for best costumes. The Ragin' Rhinos came in 10th place, a dubious honor. Other teams that competed were Smith "Abstract Guppies," Camp Rainbow Gold, Clear Rock Capital "Pigeons," Board Bin "Ball Kickers" and Cellar Pub.
Along with the joke shorts, the Adaptive Sports team wore pink ribbons in honor of their Program Manager and Clinical Supervisor Shauna Smith, 35. Smith moved from Salt Lake City to Ketchum last fall to work for Adaptive Sports. Recently diagnosed with breast cancer, she is returning to Salt Lake for surgery this Friday.
Smith coordinates therapy and programs for all the kids' activities, and oversees each person's progression.
"It's very scary and we're worried but glad it's being taken care of," Barrett said. "We wanted to make everyone aware at the tournament that we were supporting her. She loves it here and never wants to leave."
Nathan Smids, 23, is volunteering with SVAS this summer. “Four years ago, I had a snowboarding accident near Ottawa Canada. They put a piece of medal in to heal the bone and it became infected and was amputated,” he said. “It’s been rough but its gotten me involved in situations like this that are very rewarding.”
