LIMA — It has been said that everyone is touched by cancer, either going through it themselves or knowing someone who does. With this in mind, the Lima Police Department and Relay For Life are teaming up to combat this rampant disease, not with guns and handcuffs, but with bats and gloves.
“We wanted to team up and do something together to raise money for the relay,” Midway East Community-Oriented Police Officer Aaron Rode said. “What we came up with is the first annual Charity Softball Tournament.”
Originally intended to be solely for first-responders, the June 25 tournament is now open to all willing participants.
“We are wanting to have 16 teams,” he said. “We’re currently up to eight, so we have room for more.”
Teams representing the Lima Police Department, Lima Fire Department, Cridersville Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol have committed to play, along with travelling softball teams out of Wapakoneta and Waynesfield.
“It’s a 10-player minimum, but you can have up to 12 players,” Rode said. “It’s a co-ed league, and you don’t have to have a set number of males and females.”
The fee to register is $100 per team with fees due before the start of the tournament.
“The winning team will get personalized T-shirts and a trophy,” Rode said. “Whatever profits we have left after that will go directly to Relay for Life.”
Other attractions during the tournament include snow cones, popcorn, face-painting and a chicken barbecue meal that will be served all day by the Bradfield Community Center.
“We’ll have donation buckets for the popcorn and snow cones,” Rode said. “Instead of being charged a dollar, you can just dip in your pocket and pay whatever you want.”
The tournament will be held at Faurot Park, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. and the first game starting at 9 a.m., with the championship game scheduled for 5 p.m. Teams wishing to participate can contact Rode at 419-812-3143.
