Bats, balls and wedding bells

Mirror staff

Celebration Park turned into a field of dreams Saturday evening.

Bonney Lake’s Andi Venefra and Scott Jones were married on the Federal Way softball field in a simple ceremony attended by friends and family. The couple was playing in concurrent softball tournaments at Celebration during the weekend. Jones plays for the Da Vinci Gourmet men’s team and Venefra plays for the Soul-2-Soul women.

It was the same field that Jones and Venefra met on three years ago and they wanted to combine their love of softball with their love for each other.

“(They) wanted something that would fit into their busy summer schedules, but also one that reflected their passion for softball and included most of their friends,” said Lora Flewelling, a friend of the couple.

Saturday’s ceremony was officiated by Keith Muhich, Jones’ teammate on Da Vinci’s. Muhich, the left-centerfielder, was ordained online. The tournament director and staff at Celebration Park didn’t schedule any games on Field No. 1 during the 6 p.m. ceremony and even surrounded home plate with a heart-shaped batter’s box in chalk. Family members and friends for each lined the first and third baselines while the couple exchanged vows on the pitcher’s mound.

“This wedding was a nice reflection of Scott and Andi,” Flewelling said.

Venefra currently works for the Sumner School District and Jones works at Sonic Collision Center in SeaTac. This is the second marriage for both and the couple plans to honeymoon later this year in Las Vegas — separate from any softball tournament trips.

Jones and Venefra shared cake and refreshments following the ceremony and even completed the traditional smearing of the wedding cake in the face.