Marian Jakubowski Scholarship Softball Tournament

In 1984, Marian Jakubowski passed away and was survived by her husband and seven sons.   Before her passing she had volunteered for 19 years with the Audubon Little League serving as a team Mom, Concession Stand Manager and an Assistant Coach.  One year as Assistant Coach her team was the Minor League Champions.  Most of Mrs. Jake’s years were spent as the Concession Stand Manager.   Subsequently, a number of her sons coached and/or umpired with Audubon Little League and served on the Board. Marian, as well as two of her sons (Dave & Jim) and one of her nieces (Debbie Lebb) , were placed into the Audubon Little League Hall of Fame.

Upon her passing, the Little League approached Marian Jakubowski’s family asking if the existing scholarship be named in memory of her.  In the early 1990’s, the Audubon Little League decided to host an annual softball tournament to raise funds for the scholarship.  This tournament, held on the first Saturday in June, is a double elimination, one pitch softball tournament for ten teams. 

Teams joining in the tournament over the years have represented a number of groups in town including the Fire Department, Havilland Avenue School, High School teachers and Coaches, Audubon Fathers’ Association, families and neighborhoods in town.  Marian’s family has been fielding a team every year in her memory.

The early years are still quite memorable with teams battling all day long with some championships won with walk off home runs.  There are memories of heart attacks, pulled hamstrings (sometimes two at a time), and lots of sunburn. As a testament to baseball in Audubon, those early years included dugouts filled with youngsters watching the games and cheering on their parents.  Some of those kids grew up to play for championship teams for Audubon Little League and Audubon High School.  Several of the teams playing today are populated with those very kids who grew up watching the tournament and waiting for their chance to be part of the Jakubowski Tournament tradition. 

Audubon is proud of their baseball tradition.  Audubon Little League is the core of that tradition.  The Marian Jakubowski Tournament is just one example of the many families and volunteers who keep Audubon Little League and Audubon Baseball going strong.

Please come out and join us for this terrific event that benefits Audubon High School Seniors with scholarship money as they head off to their next adventure in life. It is a lot of fun to watch and there is plenty to do. Each Little League team donates a basket for auction, there is a 50/50, T-shirts and plenty of food.