Photo by Tim Hirsch

WindSync Wind Quintet will showcase their musical talents at the Neskowin Chamber Music’s final concert of the 2025-26 seaon. They will take the stage at the Chapel at Camp Wi-Ne-Ma at 3 p.m. on May 20. Tickets are $40.

A Swing at the Goal Posts

Slingball Tournament to raise money for MS, June 27-28

By TIM HIRSCH

of the Sun

The sandy shores adjacent Pelican Pub at Cape Kiwanda will be all fun and games on June 27-28 when the MJN Slingball Tournament pits skilled competitors against one another at the double-elimination contest.

The event will feature a full day of competition on Saturday, June 27 followed by finals on Sunday, June 28. Registration for the double-elimination adult (12 and up) tournament is $150. Kids under 12 can register for the Mini Marilyn Tourney for $50.

The game of Slingball, which consists of throwing two golf balls attached together by string at a PVC tower with the goal of getting them wrapped around the towers, is accessible to all, say organizers Randy and Carter Neu. Though there are similar versions of the games out there, this version has its own unique twist — owing to the back bar not found on other games and the shorter rope between the golf balls.

It’s hailed as a competition that needs no prior experience. In fact, in past years competitors with no prior experience have come out on top at the Slingball Tournament.

The event exists to raise money for MS sufferers with the bulk of the monies raised going towards the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Portland, which helps those dealing with MS live a more comfortable life through a range of services, services that include providing air conditioning (as those with MS have a more difficult time with heat) and iPads (to communicate better with friends and family).

The competition, which was started by brothers Randy and Carter Neu, is a tribute to their mother, Marilyn J. Neu, who lost her battle with MS in 2005. Since that modest beginning in 2007, it has grown to an event that routinely hosts more than 100 competitors and has featured 200 in its peak year. The funds raised from entry fees and the associated silent auction typically raises $15,000-$25,000 annually — monies that are used, via MSSP, to make living with MS more manageable.

This year’s silent auction will feature a variety of valuable merchandise, trips and more.

In addition to the main tournament, a kids’ tourney will be featured. Other fund-raising elements will include a betting board and the aforementioned silent auction.

The event will conclude with an awards ceremony that will include the presentation of the Roger J. Neu Volunteerism Award, an award added in 2024 as a tribute to the voluntary work Randy and Carter’s dad, Roger, annually contributed to the event before his passing.

To find out more about the Slingball Tournament or to register for the competition, visit slingball.com. There, visitors can discover more details on the event’s history as well as view an overview video of the fundraiser.