Reconsider name change to Twins tourney
I’m writing this letter in regards to the article (Whitefish Pilot, April 3) stating that the Glacier Twins Legion baseball program is renaming the Sapa/Johnsrud Memorial Tournament to the Glacier Twins Memorial Tournament.
It is with great sadness and disbelief that the Glacier Twins organization would take such action to take away 28 years of tradition and celebration of the lives of Raymond Johnsrud and Jimmy Sapa.
Raymond Johnsrud was killed Aug. 6, 1984 in a tragic train/car accident returning from baseball practice with fellow teammate and friend Jimmy Sapa. Throughout the years, I have had numerous conversations with Raymond’s teammates and friends about the significance and impact on their lives with the passing of Raymond. Words cannot express the pain and sorrow felt by so many in both the Columbia falls and Whitefish communities.
Stories of Raymond’s character and athleticism have been echoed throughout these 28 years by coaches and friends. Raymond played varsity as a sophomore in both football and basketball at Columbia Falls High School. The football program, in honor of Raymond, gives an award to the most valuable lineman. Most notably, was the World Series finalist baseball team that both Raymond and Jimmy played on. The stories of that baseball team are legendary and people still talk about their World Series baseball run.
In 1985 coach Julio Delgado and the respective Sapa and Johnsrud families created and organized the Sapa/Johnsrud Memorial Tournament. This Legion baseball tournament was a premier event providing competition for both Canadian and U.S. teams. Shirts were made every year with the faces of Raymond and Jimmy engraved in the fabric with their respective player numbers, No. 1 and No. 42. The Legion baseball field in Columbia Falls was also named the Sapa/Johnsrud field in honor of these two individuals.
On behalf of the Johnsrud family, I would like to ask the Glacier Twins Board to reconsider changing the Sapa/Johnsrud Memorial Tournament to the Glacier Twins Memorial Tournament. The tradition of 28 years with the Sapa/Johnsrud Tournament has been an icon in the history of the Glacier Twins baseball program. The Johnsrud family would be saddened to see this tradition gone and would like to ask the Glacier Twins Board to reconsider their decision in changing the Sapa/Johnsrud Memorial Tournament.
I would like to invite those of you that are in support of the Sapa/Johnsrud Tournament to attend the Glacier Twins monthly board meeting May 13, at 7 p.m. at the JCCS building 307 Spokane Ave. in Whitefish.
— Dirk Johnsrud