Holly Colwell Save 2nd Base tournament returns for cancer charity fundraising

The Holly Colwell Save 2nd Base Wiffle Ball Tournament will return Saturday, July 25 at 9:30 a.m. to Hayes Playground, home of the Bustleton Bengals at 9945 President St., with cancer fundraising built into every swing. The event is now listed by HOMERUNS FOR HOLLY as its 8th annual tournament, and the format reaches beyond the usual adult bracket with separate divisions for players 14-and-older and 13-and-under.

That split matters. It gives the fundraiser a built-in youth lane, keeps younger players involved year after year and helps the tournament stay relevant beyond the core wiffle ball crowd. Teams will pay $30 per player, rosters can run from 5 to 10 players, and the proceeds are earmarked for cancer patients. The winning team will also be able to donate $500 to the cancer charity of its choice, turning the title game into more than bragging rights.

HOMERUNS FOR HOLLY, which was founded in memory of Holly Elizabeth Colwell, has tied the on-field action directly to the fundraising total. The organization says each home run hit in the tournament will add $25 toward medical expenses, so offense carries an immediate price tag. That structure gives every long ball extra weight and makes the scoreboard part of the charity drive, not just the competition.

The day is also being built as a full stop rather than a one-off bracket. Food and drink will be available for purchase, raffle tables and a 50-50 will be part of the event, and volunteer umpires are being recruited with food and a T-shirt as the payoff. The public is invited to attend, widening the circle around the tournament so families, neighbors and supporters can contribute even if they are not on a roster.

The summer effort does not stop at Hayes Playground. HOMERUNS FOR HOLLY is also promoting a separate fundraiser at Citizens Bank Park on Aug. 3, when the Phillies host the Nationals. Those tickets include a seat in the 400 level behind home plate and a pregame tailgate party, extending the cause from a neighborhood wiffle ball field to a big-league setting.