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The Cards’ varsity baseball team will officially have a new yearly tradition after they have their second annual car wash fundraiser on Sunday, Jan. 29 at the Country Fresh Cleaners at 10 am. Last year marked their first iteration of the event which helped them afford important equipment and team gear. However, there is a deeper meaning behind the Cards’ car wash as they pay their respects to a dearly departed, longtime fan of the team. In remembrance of Kristie Geisler, the team plans to continue their new tradition with the same spirit of joy and love for the team that Geisler displayed in life.
Geisler’s connection with the Cardinals’ baseball team was developed over a lifetime of devotion to her hometown in Columbus. She always had a love for her town, as well as for baseball. It was the only logical conclusion for her to become a Cards baseball fan by the time she was walking the halls of Columbus High in her teenage years. As a 1992 graduate, Geisler witnessed an era of baseball that had reached new heights in the town since the days of legendary head coach H.O. Priest and professional pitcher Doug Rau.
While the Cards were not necessarily still at the height of their powers by the 90s, the impact and history of those teams around the midpoint of the 1900s created a sense of pride and a desire for greatness within the program. Geisler was one of the many citizens of Columbus who grew into a devoted fan of their hometown team. Her fanship continued beyond her graduation as she stayed in Columbus and played an integral role in the community as a kindergarten teacher. She attended games, supported the team and even passed her love of sports and baseball in particular to her children who each played for Columbus when their turn came to attend CHS.
Geisler was the definition of a lifetime fan when it came to the Cards. Unfortunately, that lifetime was cut much too short after her tragic passing due to COVID complications. The entire community felt the pain of such a loss, but especially the baseball team as they had always been able to count on her support. Her memory is one that is cherished amongst those who are a part of or follow the team. In last year’s Columbus- hosted HOP Priest tournament, the varsity boys lined up on the field for a moment of silence, a symbolic demonstration of releasing balloons with her favorite color as well as the unveiling of a bench behind home plate, purchased with the car wash funds, that stands as a memorial monument. “The best seats in the house” would be forever reserved for the team’s guardian angel.
It was an impactful moment for those who had been fortunate enough to share the team’s triumphs and defeats along with Geisler across the years. However, it was not the first time the team had shown reverence to their lifetime fan. Prior to the beginning of the 2022 season, volunteer parents of the team organized and carried out the first official Kristie Geisler memorial car wash at Brookshire Brothers in Columbus. Kelly Lewis, a lifetime friend of Geisler’s, had always known just how much Geisler loved the Cards. They grew up together, graduated together, and even raised their children together as their boys Ryan Lewis and Connor Geisler are current Columbus seniors and baseball players who have been close friends essentially since their preteen years as travel baseball players. Under the lead direction of Lewis, Amber Kuhn, Sarah Everett, Jimmy Brown and with the labor of the players and their parents, the Cards were able to earn over $3,000 to put towards team gear. Lewis forwarded every cent on to Coach Allen and the rest of the staff for use on any of the team’s needs. With the money earned at the car wash, the team was able to purchase new hoodies, game-day pants, a team bat and much more as the fundraiser gave a significant boost to the team’s budget. Columbus baseball often functions on a much smaller budget, so the fundraiser gave the team some relief as they have looked to gather more and higher quality equipment. It is fitting that Geisler is the namesake for this yearly event as she continues to support the team even after her passing, and she will continue to do so even as her children graduate and move on past Columbus High.
“She just loved the game so much,” Lewis said of her longtime friend, “I know she’s happy that the baseball team is able to get some additional resources and get the boys stuff. And this will carry on.”
The combination of the funds’ importance and Geisler’s influence made this annual fundraiser one of the most vital events of the year for the baseball team. While there is no minimum price to pay to get a car wash with the team, any donation goes a long way to helping them reach their financial goals. When they reconvene for the second annual car wash fundraiser on Sunday, they will have the hope that those coming to support will do so with the same spirit of fanship and love for the team that Geisler provided a strong example of in her life.
