DAYTON — These Bengals are a close-knit group. They’re also a generous band of football soldiers.
On Saturday at Day Air Ballpark, both qualities were on display as over 30 current and former stars came out for the second annual Logan Wilson Charity Softball and Home Run Derby challenge to benefit the linebacker’s foundation and the “Play for Brooks” charity to raise awareness for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Brooks Joshua Anderson was the first-born son of Jamie and Josh Anderson, who passed away suddenly in January 2016 due to SIDS. Anderson was Wilson’s high school football coach and the loss of Brooks impact Wilson immediately.
“The founder of the foundation was one of my high school coaches growing up,” Wilson said before the tournament Saturday. “We were close then and then when he when he lost their first-born son to SIDS him and I got really really close and he was actually in our wedding is one of my groomsmen and we’ve been close ever since.
Wilson and his wife, Morgan, welcomed their first child, Kambry James, on March 15, the same day Evan McPherson and his wife welcomed their first child.
“One of the things I always told him about was no matter what, I was going to try to do everything I could to bring a light to their situation because for a parent to go through something like that is never easy,” Wilson said. “Truthfully, I couldn’t even imagine it and I think it hits differently having your own kid in that situation.
“And so just just doing everything I can to help them promote research to figure out what SIDS is like all those things that I talked about and just doing everything I can to bring light to their situation raise more money and things like this is what makes us so special.”
Logan Wilson celebrates and explains his second annual Softball game and HR Derby today for Play for Brooks SIDS Foundation pic.twitter.com/9U5LwvlZlJ
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) June 1, 2024
Wilson’s foundation raised thousands for research on Saturday at the same time some other Bengals rookies visited Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base near Columbus on Friday to meet with Airmen of the 121st Air Refueling Wing.
Players started the day learning about the 121st Air Refueling Wing’s mission to provide combat-ready Airmen who provide security and defense of the state and nation.
Every team, of course, has opportunities to activate their coaches and players in community events. That’s not unusual. But it’s clear from the head coach that a certain priority is placed on finding time in the offseason to get involved.
Saturday was Logan Wilson’s event. Sam Hubbard hosted his Fowling Tournament that Zac Taylor also attended in May and on March 17 there was the St. Tatty’s Day promotion sponsored by Ted Karras and his “Cincy Hat” organization to benefit the Village of Merici.
The true spirit of the team is reflected by how many players and coaches show up at these events. When your head coach takes time out of his Saturday in the offseason – on the same day his son is playing in a basketball game two hours away – you know the coach is backing up his words of culture-building with action.
“We’ve got so many great players that have such tremendous character represent an organization the right way, represent our fan base the right way,” Zac Taylor told me. “And so anytime you get a chance to support (them)… it’s not always perfect, can’t always do it, but this is one that works well with their schedule.
“I think it’s really cool to get up here to Dayton, and it’s not an area we get to spend a ton of time and we’ve got a ton of fans up here,” Taylor said. “Obviously, they make the trek down to Cincinnati to support us a lot of different ways. I’m happy Logan chose this venue. It’s really perfect for the situation and it gives a chance for a lot of fans to come out here and interact with the team.
“I think Logan, like all guys, are impacted in a lot of different ways by people that have certainly touched their lives. They can give back and support and aid, and we have a lot of guys like Logan who have done this. Just getting the chance to meet some of the families Logan’s brought in here that are part of this is always really a fun experience for us.”
“We’ve got so many great players with tremendous character that represent our organization the right way, represent our fan base the right way.” Zac Taylor on Logan Wilson and his Foundation that sponsors Saturday’s charity softball game and HR Derby. pic.twitter.com/HqBKhuTsk3
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) June 1, 2024
Taylor is naturally sensitive to helping any cause that offers families support. Taylor was wearing a specially crafted hat from the “Cincy Hat” folks, the organization and foundation that works with Ted Karras and the Village of Merici, the organization that finds jobs for the disabled in Indianapolis.
Taylor has long been a supporter of organizations that help the disabled, as his sister Kathryn has Down Syndrome.
“It’s two foundations that are very meaningful and for Logan to be able to do this and Ted supports to cause near and dear to my heart, finding housing for people with disabilities and my sister falls in that category,” Taylor said. “So again, it’s a cool hat. Hats don’t often fit my head the right way. I’m just finding the right way to wear it. I usually don’t wear one but this one, that’s for the cause. I’m all in on it.”
Cal Adomitis captures the Second Annual @ljw21 HR Derby crown. Aditus had no fewer than three home runs either reach the warning track legitimately or go over the right field wall 50 feet beyond the home run Derby wall set up in the middle of the outfield, pure bombs. pic.twitter.com/u5lHjGUHT1
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) June 1, 2024
