Baseball tourney benefits brain cancer patients

The Lake in the Hills Youth Athletic Association will continue hosting its fourth-annual Brian Krueger Memorial Tournament through the weekend.

The event raises money to support the Midwest Children's Brain Tumor Center at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, which helps patients with pediatric brain cancer and their families. It is held each year in memory of Brian Krueger, a former association baseball player who died at age 11 after struggling with cancer for much of his life.

"I always feel both honored and humbled by this event, which memorializes my Brian in such a wonderful way," said Brian's father, Ken Krueger, in a news release. "For these few days every year, I almost feel that Brian is out there playing baseball again through all of these enthusiastic young players."

Forty-seven baseball teams from throughout northern Illinois have been playing in the tournament since Wednesday, and will continue through Sunday. Games take place at Sunset Park and Leroy Guy Park in Lake in the Hills.

Concessions, raffle tickets, and T-shirts also will be sold.

Last year, the baseball association was able to donate a record $6,000 to the tumor center. Half of the net proceeds from the tournament will again be donated this year.

Donations in Brian Krueger's memory can also be made directly to Midwest Children's Brain Tumor Center, Lutheran General Hospital, 1675 Dempster St., Park Ridge, IL. 60068.

For more information about Krueger and this weekend's game schedules, visit www.lithyaa.org or call Tournament Director Tom Johnson at 224-333-0182.