The signs of Spring are unmistakable on St. John, according to Janet Cook Rutnik, long-time resident and award winning artist. "The sun clears the horizon well before 7 a.m. Water trucks start lining up at the Cruz Bay standpipe. Agave plants send up shoots like giant asparagus, and girls who play softball are on the field practicing for the Ruby Rutnik Memorial Tournament."
This is the 11th year Rutnik and her husband, Andy, have sponsored the event, in memory of their daughter, Ruby, who died in an auto accident while a student at American University in Washington, DC. The tournament raises money through sales of sponsorships of innings and T-shirts. Proceeds are used to support a scholarship fund. So far, the fund has awarded $64,000 to 19 students.
This year's tournament will be held at the Winston Wells Ballpark in Cruz Bay Friday and Saturday, May 4 and 5. Teams of schoolgirls from St.. Thomas and St. Croix will compete to win a $2,500 scholarship for one of the college-bound seniors from the winning school.