On Saturday, April 16, the softball team will host their first annual Softball Strikeout for Cancer game against Hollidaysburg. The game will be held at the Logan Elementary softball field. The game was originally scheduled for April 9 but was rescheduled due to rain.

“We play Hollidaysburg every year and since they are not in our conference, it hasn’t been a big deal up until now. Since it’s a rivalry, we wanted to make a bigger deal out of this game. To do that, Jess [the head coach of the softball team] and Hollidaysburg’s coach decided that we should make money off of the game through baskets and other things to donate to families that are suffering from losses from cancer or with family members that have cancer,” junior Gracie Wilt said.

This event was coordinated by the Hollidaysburg softball coach and the Altoona softball coach, Jess Stiffler.

“I am a member of the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association). The NFCA runs a Strikeout Cancer event each year for teams all over the country. Teams are able to join in by having a registered coach sign up and the teams receive promotional items to show off during the event. The money that is raised is then tallied by the NFCA organization and the team/school that raises the most money for cancer research gets prizes and national attention,” Stiffler said.

The money for this cause will be raised by raffling off baskets donated by local businesses, selling 50/50 tickets, selling food through concession stands and food trucks and selling ‘Just Cure It’ t-shirts.

Because of the rivalry between Hollidaysburg and Altoona, the teams expects high competition.

“I’m excited. We had a really good game last year, so I’m hoping for the same energy, the same competitiveness as last year. I’m hoping it’s a close game so everybody can enjoy it,” Wilt said.

Some players are hoping this game will turn around their season and give their record a positive change.

“The season has been tough for my team so far, but I am hopeful that we will turn it around. Our team has greatly improved from last year and I am excited to see what we will do. I am looking forward to our game. I hope that we can take home a win,” senior Abby Smearman said.

The rivalry game will attract people from both schools, and the team is hoping for lots of spectators to come support the cause.

“I chose to use our game against Hollidaysburg to be our Strike Out Cancer event game because I knew that there was huge potential to bring in both communities to support a cause that is way bigger than just a softball game. It’s awesome to use a fun, exciting platform such as a hometown rivalry softball game to raise money and awareness in our communities about cancers of all kinds,” Stiffler said.

In addition to the fundraising opportunities of the day, there will also be a balloon launch

“Our balloon release will be a memorial to those related to either our Altoona softball members’ families that have passed on from cancer and those that have passed from cancer related to the Hollidaysburg softball team members as well. We will also be honoring those family members of both teams that are currently battening cancer as well as those who are cancer survivors,” Stiffler said.

The winner of this game will take home a trophy. Each year, the winner of the game will take the trophy home with them. This is the first year that the softball team has held a Strikeout for Cancer event; however, it will not be the last.

“The more I can use my coaching platform to raise awareness about cancer, the better. I plan to make it bigger and better every year! This will absolutely become an annual thing,” Stiffler said.

This game hits home with some of the team. They can relate to the struggles and are glad that the community is doing something to get involved.

“I’ve had family members that have been diagnosed with cancer. It is always nice to see it brought to light and see that people care. Even if people don’t have a personal connection with someone who was diagnosed with cancer, it is still nice to show that the community cares and wants to help those in need,” Wilt said.

“We have a senior softball member whose mother just recently found out she has breast cancer. Times are hard these days and knowing that we can do something to raise not only awareness but money to donate to their family and other local families who are burdened by cancer. We also plan to donate to local cancer research charities such as Sideline Cancer and the Griffith Foundation,” Stiffler said.