“It’s a slice of heaven”: Sherwood Yards hosts 27th Annual Wiffle Ball World Series benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Is this heaven? No, and it’s not Iowa. It’s the backyard of a Cape Girardeau home, the home where Jeff Augustine grew up that has transformed into Sherwood Yards. 

“It’s a slice of heaven,” Augustine said. “This was my backyard. This is where all my friends came over and played, and I don’t know what else to say other than it’s a special place.”

For the last 27 years, Augustine has run an annual wiffle ball tournament, the Wiffle Ball World Series, at Sherwood Yards, and for about half of those years, the tournament has benefitted St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 

“I’m fortunate to have healthy kids, and I think what St. Jude does is help those folks and families that aren’t so fortunate,” Augustine said. 

Friday night’s home run derby began the festivities, and the tournament will run most of the day on Saturday. 

Augustine’s good friend Mike Renick helps him organize the tournament, and Renick likened the Wiffle Ball World Series to a class reunion. 

“It’s really just a time to get together and play a kids’ game and have fun and catch up with people you haven’t seen in such a long time, and it’s all for a great cause,” Renick said.

Augustine now lives in Florida and comes home every year for the tournament, so Renick has taken on a more active role in organizing it to take some of the weight off Augustine’s shoulders. 

And even though it has lasted for 27 years, it will eventually come to an end, so Renick said they treat every edition of the Wiffle Ball World Series as if it is the last. 

“We always kind of act like it’s going to be the last one because you never know and try to put our best foot forward for each one,” he said.