06/13/2006

19 Survivors at Wuerfel Park Friday

CBS reality series contestants in TC this weekend

BY JEFF PEEK

jpeek@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — Cirie Fields is headed to the diamond.

Fields, a final four contestant in the most recent episode of the CBS "Survivor" reality series, is the final addition to Friday night's charity softball game at Wuerfel Park.

Fields became one of the most popular contestants in Survivor history this season, inspiring women to get off the couch and into the game. Prior to "Survivor Panama: Exile Island," Fields had never even gone camping, but she lasted 36 days before losing a tiebreaker that would have given her a berth in final three.

"We're calling her the female Rupert," local Survivor charity organizer Tammy Schuster said, referring to two-time contestant Rupert Boneham. "She's just as nice and as funny as Rupert. I'm looking forward to getting to know her while she's here."

Friday's charity softball game will pit 19 former Survivor cast members against local celebrities. John and Leslye Wuerfel, owners of the Traverse City Beach Bums professional baseball team, are donating 100 percent of the ticket sales to two charities designated by the Survivors — St. Jude's Children's Hospital and Rupert's Kids.

Tickets are $15 each. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

"It's going to be a great night for two worthy causes," Schuster said. "We'll have a lot of fun and a lot of surprises."

The softball game is just a portion of a bigger Survivor Weekend event. Nine of the Survivors will be signing autographs at Thursday night's Beach Bums game.

All 19 will take part in another autograph session at the Grand Traverse Mall on Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2:15 p.m. Ten will sign until approximately 12:30, when the other nine begin signing.

A charity auction and dinner will be held on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Williamsburg Showcase Dinner Theatre. Tickets are still available for $65. Only 200 will be sold to allow attendees more time with the Survivors.

On Sunday, "Survivor Karaoke Roulette" will be held at The Big Easy. Registration is at 4:30, with competition set to begin at 5.

Fields will be joined in Traverse City by another Panama contestant, Misty Giles. Boneham, who competed on Pearl Island and All-Stars and took part in last year's Traverse City event, is also returning.

Vanuata, No. 9 in the Survivor series, will bring five contestants to TC — Scout Cloud Lee, Twila Tanner, Chad Crittenden, Lisa Keiffer and Lea "Sarge" Masters.

Four will be attending from Marquesas (season No. 4) — $1 million winner Vecepia Towery, Sean Rector, Paschal "Pappy" English and Neleh Dennis.

Tina Wesson, the $1 million winner from Survivor: Outback (season No. 2), is coming to Traverse City for the first time.

Also attending are "Big Tom" Buchanan from Africa and All-Stars, Jake Billingsley and Helen Glover from Thailand, Coby Archa from Palau, and Rafe Judkins and Brandon Bellinger from Guatemala.

Among the local celebrities playing softball are WTCM's Jack O'Malley, Ron Jolly, Norm Jones and Colleen Wares; TV 7&4's Stacey Skrysak and Greg McMaster; and Traverse City State Bank's Peter Correia, who coordinates Detroit Red Wings training camp each September.

For softball ticket information, call Wuerfel Park at (231) 943-0100. For dinner and auction information, call Schuster at (231) 369-2541.