THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Saturday, August 16, 2014

There are plenty of ways to remember someone lost from cancer.

Memorial, whether that be a scholarship fund or a donation to fight the disease so that someday someone can be saved.

Or picking up a bat, along with your friends and family, and taking a swing to help find a cure.

THE FIGHT Invitational softball tournament was held last weekend in Rathdrum, honoring Ginni Lenz, who passed away in May from a battle with pancreatic cancer.

She was only 50 years old.

An avid softball fan, or sports of any kind really, the idea of a softball tournament in her honor was put together by some in the community, including her son Jesse Lenz, and daughter Jackie (Lenz) Stotz.

From that battle Team Fight was born into Jesse's traveling softball team.

"It was just something that we'd like to get started because she just loved the game," Jesse said. "Team Fight is for her. She was the team mom, and it's kind of taken off with its own brand. We had jersey's made and one for her."

Proceeds from the tournament went to a donation to cancer research in Ginni's name by Team Fight Like A Girl - the family's team for the Kootenai County Relay for Life - as well as to help fund gifts for the Children's Hospital during Christmas.

"It's not just about the softball tournament for us," Jesse said. "We had the idea of doing all the other stuff and helping out where we can. The local cancer center was great for us. My mom had a smile on her face the entire time, and you make a relationship with those people that have helped you along the way. My mom was always involved and doing stuff for others. We wanted to make it known and just kind of run with it."

AS FOR the tournament, held at Majestic Park in Rathdrum, it featured 13 teams, mostly from the local area and Spokane.

"It was the first tournament they'd ever had there," Jesse said. "They're looking to build something similar to Quad Park (in Post Falls) and we were on a trial run. It was really nice, and kind of a family friendly tournament. They have a splash pad and had that going for the kids. It turned out really nice."

Often times, organizers in coed leagues in Coeur d'Alene held planning meetings in the parking lot discussing plans for the tournament.

"Once it came to last Saturday, all of us where there at 5:30 a.m., setting up awnings and other things for some shade," organizer Brandon Williams said. "Once everyone started showing up, we'd umpire games and make sure everything was going OK. Girlfriends and wives were in the concession stands and keeping score. It was just a big family affair."

"We were shocked and excited to have that many teams out," Jackie said. "We were honestly overwhelmed with people being so gracious. I was working in the concession stand and some people would buy a $6 hot dog and give us a $20 and tell us to 'keep the change.' Everyone and all of the teams were super supportive. We just wanted to get this going, and by the end everyone was talking about next year. We had people we hadn't seen in 16-20 years that didn't come for the memorial service that made it a point to come for this. We just knew it was going to be special, and to have those people come back and support it as well was great."

"Mom's motto was that she 'refused to quit,'" Jesse said. "As she got sicker, she never quit. This kind of took off like crazy. It was a great remembrance of her. She wasn't the biggest person, but had the biggest heart."

"With Team FIGHT, it's not just a team," Williams said. "It's a family."

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.