The first James T. Birkenstock Strikeout Diabetes Classic was called a “storybook” ending as his daughter, Kalista’s team won the championship, a 14U group playing up against a field of 16U teams.

This year, the team didn’t have the same success, but that didn’t put a damper on another special day of softball on Nov. 20 at the Hudson Valley Sportsdome in Milton.

Birkenstock’s Huskies 16U Select team finished second and raised more than $7,000 for research into juvenile diabetes, almost double what was raised last year.

“This was another truly amazing show of support by my Huskies teammates and Huskies organization, our community, and all those that contributed to another successful fundraiser for Juvenile Diabetes,” Kalista Birkenstock said. “To raise over $7000 is amazing. I can’t wait to raise even more next year.”

The Huskies finished second to Long Island Surge Gold, after falling 2-1 in the championship game following a long day of softball that started at 8 a.m.

In the finals, Taylor Schoonmaker doubled home Ava Lichtenberger to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning, but the Surge scored two runs to win the game.

The Surge and Huskies had battled to a 0-0 tie in the pool play round. The tie gave the Surge the No. 1 seed in the finals and the Huskies got the second seed.

Birkenstock won’t have to wait another year for the next even as the event will return to the Hudson Valley Sportsdome on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022.