Murphy Wiffle Ball Tournament donates $8K to woman battling ALS

(BROOKVILLE, Ind.) – Organizers of a Batesville wiffleball tournament just made a large donation to a Franklin County woman battling ALS.

The annual Murphy Wiffle Ball Classic was held in September in honor of 45-year-old Andy Murphy. 

Andy lived in Batesville with his wife, Brooke, and their two young children. He was an IU graduate who even served as a student manager for Coach Bobby Knight. 

He was diagnosed with ALS in 2019 and stayed true to his faith while never complaining when his condition worsened. 

While he was battling the disease, family and friends came up with the concept of hosting a wiffle ball tournament to raise funds for his family. 

Andy passed away in July of 2023 and that wiffle ball tournament continues in his legacy. 

This year, the tournament selected Colleen Kopp as the recipient of the funds. It was a full day of wiffle ball, raffles, food and other activities. 

Kopp was diagnosed in March of 2020 and she and her family were in attendance for the tournament. 

Tournament organizer Chris Slagle and other members stopped by Colleen’s house on Friday to present her with $8,000 that was raised through this year’s tournament.