217 ALZ Backyard Wiffleball Classic kicks off with unfinished business

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Everyone's favorite summer event is back. The 217 ALZ Backyard Wiffleball Classic is underway in Decatur.

The 9th annual WBC started a little differently than the rest.

Mother nature cut last year's tournament short, so a 2023 champion was crowned on Tuesday before moving on to the 2024 tournament.

The Decatur Vipers took home the grand prize. It just so happens to be the team that the tournament's creator is on.

Ethan Parker, who EP Field is named after, created the tournament when he was 12 years old.

The WBC raises money for Alzheimer's and was created in memory of Ethan's great grandmother, who had ALZ.

Watching a decades worth of support has been a dream come true for Ethan who is now a senior in college.

"It's insane because now we're having people play who were born after the first year tournament, and I used to be the youngest player in this thing," said Parker. "So now watching all these kids grow up through the tournament and they're like, oh, we're 12 years old. I was like, that was that used to be me. But now I'm a senior in college and seeing all these people, like, grow through the event is insane."

You can catch the action all week at 2910 South Lewallen Place.