SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT SET TO HONOR FOCHT

Everything is set for the first 4Mick 4The Game Memorial Scholarship Softball Tournament. The event, in honor of Hollidaysburg Area High School softball standout Mikayla “Mick” Focht, who died in an ATV accident in April, will be held Saturday and Sunday at Legion Park. “We’re trying to get some healing through the game of softball,” tournament director Jim Payne said. “The response has been very positive — we’ve gotten a lot of support from the local softball community.” The games, involving 18U, 16U and 14U divisions, will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday on all three fields at Legion Park and run until 8 p.m. An alumni game will then be held at 9:30 p.m. On Sunday, all of the teams will compete in a single-elimination bracket beginning at 8 a.m. with the finals scheduled for 2 p.m. The fast-pitch tournament was open to all travel ball teams with a $304 entry fee with a four-game guarantee. Payne said the tournament is already filled with teams. “We had 16 teams in about the first two weeks,” he said. “We’ve had to turn teams away. The teams that will be competing are mostly local teams, but we have teams coming from Philipsburg, Bald Eagle, Johnstown, Ebensburg … It pretty much encompasses all of (PIAA) District 6.” Payne said all proceeds will benefit the Mikayla Focht Scholarship Fund, established by Focht’s parents, Jamie and Dawn. He said fans attending the games will be able to make donations. “The whole thing is for her,” Payne said. “We’re trying to raise as much money as we can.” Payne said the overwhelming support will most likely mean the tournament will become an annual event. “We’ve had some people who’ve gone above and beyond for this, people like Kelly Baker, Brenda Johnsonbaugh and Beth Campbell,” Payne said. “And the umpires are all donating their time. It’s a true community event.”

SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT SET TO HONOR FOCHT

Photo Credit: Hollidaysburg High School Athletics

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