Tyler Blanchard at New Lungs for George Tourney Tyler Blanchard swings for a hit for the Gray Recreation Department's "Rec'ing Crew." (Photo Nathan Tsukroff)

The players came out to support George Carman, a New Gloucester resident who is living with cystic fibrosis and must eventually have a lung transplant. Friends and relatives of Carman are working toward a goal of $300,000 to pay for expenses not covered by insurance when he has the operation.

Anyone who meets Carman, a tall, lanky man with a drooping mustache, is immediately taken in by his positive approach to life in general and his disease in particular. Diagnosed at birth with the disease, Carman was not expected to live more than a few days. Instead, at 41 years old, Carman is a devoted family man, an active firefighter in New Gloucester, and a strong supporter of his neighbors in New Gloucester and Gray. The median age for those with cystic fibrosis is 37.

Carman said he presently has enough lung capacity to avoid the operation although he is considered fully disabled. He periodically is hospitalized for days at a time for treatment of the abnormally thick, sticky mucus that clogs his lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections.

This was the best tournament yet, Carman said, with 11 teams playing on three fields. There were nine teams the first year and eight teams last year. Teams must have at least four women. Boseinators took second place on Saturday, with a team from Morrison and Sylvester taking third in the one-pitch slow pitch tournament. Other teams were the Gray Recreation Department's "Rec'ing Crew," RPJ Builders, Almighty Waste, Crusher Claws, Dad's Dutters, Gray Fire-Rescue Department, The Ledgers and a Yarmouth team that included Casco Bay Ford employees.

Party Time USA, a New Gloucester-based caterer, provided refreshments from its unique combination kitchen and stage. A walkway leads to a platform 10 feet above the cooking area, and Carman announced tournament rules from this unique perspective. Party Time provides lobster bakes and pig roasts on location.

All profits from Party Time's sales on Saturday were donated to New Lungs for George. Carman also benefited from tournament T-shirt sales. Local companies bought space on the back of the shirts as part of this fund-raising effort. Carman said he plans to continue his fund-raising even after he has his operation, in order to help others with CF. Donations may be made directly to "New Lungs for George" at Katahdin Federal Credit Union, c/o Debbie Girsa, 1000 Central Street, Millinocket, ME 04462.

More information about Carman may be found at www.newlungsforgeorge.org.

The next fund-raising event is planned for September 29 with a morning walk-a-thon in Auburn and an evening sock hop and cruise night at Newbegin Gym in Gray.