Softball game honors brother, sister killed in crash

By Jackie Valley (contact)

Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010 | 4:39 p.m.

To make something good out of a tragic situation, Arbor View High School hosted a memorial softball game Wednesday night for a brother and sister who died in a June car accident.

"Any time something bad happens, you try to make something good out of it," said Denise Tomcheck, an assistant principal at Arbor View High School.

With that sentiment in mind, the family and friends who gathered to remember former softball player Tiffanee Anderson and her brother, Cole Inouye, promoted the "Safe at Home" concept -- a softball reference with dual meaning meant to encourage teenagers to stay home after midnight.

Tomcheck said the event was organized by Arbor View High School and staff at Bilbray Elementary School, where the teens' mother works.

Between 200 and 300 people attended the event, which featured food donated by local eateries, a dedication for the family and the memorial softball game to raise funds for funeral costs, Tomcheck said.

Teams wore blue for Cole and pink for Tiffany, who graduated in 2009 after playing varsity softball for four years at Arbor View High School.

"God bless that family because it's a tough thing to endure," Tomcheck said.

During the dedication ceremony before the game, Arbor View High School retired Anderson's jersey number, 11.