Game to benefit Parker Foundation

Published 10:30 pm Thursday, May 17, 2012

Niles and Cassopolis will play a baseball game to benefit the Brian Parker Foundation. (Daily Star Photo/ALYSE HOYT)

Visiting Cassopolis and Niles will be swinging the bats to try and strike out cancer Saturday.

The Vikings and the Rangers will play a baseball doubleheader at Niles High School Saturday morning to help raise money for the Brian Parker Foundation.

The non-league game will start at 11 a.m. Besides baseball, there will be a fish fry put on by the Brawleys, as well as prizes and activities for all ages.

“We are doing a cancer fundraiser with all proceeds going to the Brian Parker Foundation,” Niles coach Mike Vota said. “This is the first time we have ever done it. We are going to have a commemorative hat that both teams are going to wear. We are going to start small and see if we can build upon it each year and make it better.”

The fish fry is $5 per person. There will also be beverages and desserts for sale. There will also be a speed pitch set up behind the left field fence so youngsters can see how fast they can throw a baseball.

There will also be “K” signs that can be purchased. Those signs will be hung up behind both dugouts. There will also be free giveaways, which are being sponsored by a local insurance company.

New Tech students will also be on hand with brochures about their cancer project. Cassopolis will also have students in attendance who have worked on cancer projects.

Fans will be able to give donations throughout the game. All proceeds from the sale of hats, “K” signs and the fish fry will all go to the foundation.

“You talk to anybody and they know somebody who has cancer or who has passed from cancer,” Vota said. “We feel pretty strong about doing anything we can to help.”