Softball Tournament Raises $ To Prevent Gun Violence, Honors Brother & Sister
PENN TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- A brother and sister, both recently lost to gun violence, were remembered this weekend during a memorial softball tournament in Penn Township.
"Mike and Nancy both loved softball, and they were both competitive," said Amanda Giacobbi, a co-organizer of the event.
In that same competitive spirit, 32 softball teams came together to play in the 1st Annual Schaab Softball Tournament.
The teams helped to raise money to prevent gun violence, which claimed the lives of Mike Schaab earlier this year and his sister, Nancy, in 2010.
Mike Schaab, a geriatric therapist, was killed during the shooting at Western Psych in March.
"When Mike passed away, we were like, we have to do something - something fun - that we can all remember them every year, and just have a good time and give that gift to the family," said Giacobbi.
"It means so much to me to be able to continue to do softball, and it's like he's still on our team," added Joe Giacobbi, a co-organizer of the event.
The tournament is expected to raise up to $15,000 with proceeds going toward scholarships and CeaseFirePA, a coalition of survivors and advocates taking a stand against gun violence.
Nancy Schaab was shot and killed in 2010 during a domestic violence incident.
After losing two children to gun violence and watching the recent tragedy in Colorado, Mary Schaab says she thinks something should be done to prevent large purchases of ammunition and weapons over the Internet.
"I don't have anything against people having guns, but they belong to the right people," said Mary Schaab, Mike and Nancy's mother. "Somebody who isn't well or is going to use them in the wrong way shouldn't have the guns."
She appreciates all the support shown for her family at Sunday's tournament.
"It shows us here, look at all the great people that there are; so you can't take two bad things and throw your life away, you've got to look forward and look for something to keep going," added Mary Schaab. "This is definitely a good reason to keep going."
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