The dining hall at the Waseca American Legion was a sea of blue and gray supporters on January 24 as the JWP Bulldog baseball program hosted its inaugural Outdoorsman Bingo fundraiser.
The event, aimed at funding the team’s upcoming spring training trip to Florida, was a bonafide grand slam of participation with 123 locals braving subzero temps for a chance to take home some valuable outdoorsman hardware including an Otter Vortex Lodge, an 8” Maven auger, several firearms, and more. Community members paid $100 for 10 bingo cards with additional cards available for $5. Two high-stakes “blackout” games created palpable tension as bingo pots went for hundreds of dollars, and several Bulldog faithful nearly turned blue in anticipation for their numbers to be called.
Beyond the bingo cards, the baseball Bulldogs were incredibly busy behind the scenes. Players could be found cooking up a storm—serving burgers, chicken wings, and fries—while others served the meals, managed a 50/50 raffle, and distributed gift certificates for outdoor gear like fishing poles. “Once again, it’s a major team effort to put an event like this on and our guys stepped up to help out,” said Manager Cory Jewison.
For many on the team, the fundraiser represents more than just a financial goal; it’s a ticket to a once-in-a-lifetime experience: Florida spring training. The Bulldogs’ trip to the Sunshine State will provide the team with an early-season opportunity to train on professional-grade fields and build chemistry before the Minnesota spring season officially kicks off.
Equipment manager AJ Radunz, now in his third year with the program, is one of the more rabid Bulldog members to participate in the trip. He ensures the team’s equipment is packed and organized on the bus and field, manages pitch counts during games, among other duties. This trip marks not just the first time he visits Florida–it’s the first time he’s ever been on an airplane. “I’m really looking forward to getting on the plane and excited to look out the window once we’re in the sky,” said Radunz. Once the Bulldogs arrive at the sunny vistas, he hopes to take in the breathtaking views, “There is a lot to check out, but I’m excited to visit the beach and gaze into the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. It should be a lot of fun.”
While the Bingo night was a no-doubt-about-it home run as a fundraiser, the team is still working hard to reach their financial targets. JWP Baseball raised approximately $2,000 from a breakfast fundraiser on December 7, and all the proceeds from the evening’s event would go toward the estimated 40,000 dollar cost for the Florida excursion.
Every dollar counts and based on the turnout for Outdoorsman Bingo, the Bulldog supporters are more than able to help them reach base safely, “It’s very amazing to see the support of the area tonight,” shared Jewison. “This was the first time we held a fundraiser like this, and to see this space full is amazing. We can’t thank the community enough.” .
