By: Alex Boggis | UT Martin Sports Information Assistant
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team will play host to its fall classic Sept. 20-21 at the Martin Parks and Recreation Complex and Bettye Giles Field on campus. For the second year in a row, the 19-team tournament will serve a dual purpose.
Proceeds from this year’s tournament will go towards the Susan G. Komen foundation to support breast cancer awareness. The Skyhawk softball team is pleased to announce this collaborative effort with the sisters of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority which has adopted the Susan G. Komen Foundation as its philanthropy.
“Working with the Zetas for the Susan G. Komen Foundation is the perfect partnerships for us,” UT Martin head softball coach Donley Canary said. “The annual push for breast cancer awareness begins the first of October. Besides the timing of this project, breast cancer is something that all of the teams in this tournament can relate to. We want to do our part to help awareness.
Action at the Martin Recreation Complex gets under way at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20. Thirteen games will be played on the first day. Teams will begin playing at 9 a.m. on Saturday and action continues through games at 5 p.m. Twenty-four games are slated for Saturday.
UT Martin will play John A. Logan at 4 p.m. which will be followed by Chattanooga State at 8 p.m., on Friday at Martin Parks and Recreation Complex.
The Skyhawks will play three games on Saturday, beginning with a 9 a.m. showdown with Arkansas State at Bettye Giles Field. UT Martin will play Rend Lake College at 11 a.m. and wrap up the tournament with a 5 p.m. game against Columbia State.
Before Saturday’s 9 a.m. game against Arkansas State, the Skyhawks will recognize cancer survivor Linda Ramsey, by letting her throw out the first pitch. Ramsey is an avid Skyhawk supporter and is integral in UT Martin’s Relay for Life.
T-shirts and concessions will be available throughout the weekend. Admission to the tournament is $5 per person.
“We hope that the community comes out to support several local teams as they compete and help us raise money for breast cancer awareness,” said Canary.
