Three years ago, Bailey Beckwith started the BB Classic as a way to earn her Silver Award through the Girl Scouts. Little did she know the all-star softball game featuring great players from the past would stick.
“It makes me feel honored that people want to keep the tradition going and represent softball,” Beckwith said. “I didn’t really expect it to stay for three years when I did the first game.”
The third edition of the BB Classic will be played Aug. 19 at JAGS Complex. A home run derby will begin at noon with an accurate arm contest to follow. The game itself will begin at approximately 2 p.m.
“It’s exciting to me because the guys (used to) have the Beacon’s Best,” Beckwith said. “The women didn’t have anything. This is their game to play and I want to give back to JAGS.”
There is no admission fee, but donations will be accepted. The proceeds will go toward Beckwith’s Gold Award project for the Girl Scouts. She is trying to get a new field built for the JAGS Complex.
“The reason people should come and donate is the money helps us to try and build a new field for JAGS or buy new property.
“That money will go into the fund for my Gold Award. I want to get a new field. That’s a big project for that award, but I think I can do it with enough people there and donating and enough field building the field. I think I can do it. I have two or three years (to finish the project). I have until I start college.”
In years past, the players for the game were all former high school stars in the area. This year, that pool may be expanded a bit.
“A lot of the players played one year and said they’d tell people to come and play the next year,” Beckwith said. “They want to play the next year. A lot of people want to keep playing.
“We only have three players signed up right now, so it’s open to pretty much anyone and everyone. I would like it if they had ay least played a sport. It would be nice if they were all softball players, but this way maybe we can have all athletes and sports represented.
“I need players. We only have three and that’s not enough to get a game done.”
With the 40th anniversary of the passing of Title IX having passed earlier this summer, it would be easy for Beckwith to recognize the landmark piece of legislation at her game. Instead, she is choosing to honor two long-time media fixtures from much closer to home.
“I didn’t plan on recognizing (Title IX),” she said. “I am dedicating the game to Joe Pete and Karl Pearson. Karl was well known, especially because of the newspaper. Joe was known by almost everyone in sports.
“They liked softball and all sports and really believed in girls sports.”
To that end, the teams for the game will be named Team Pete and Team Pearson in honor of the dynamic media duo, who each passed away within the last year.
Past winners of the home run derby were Mindy Marino and Caroline Behr-Jerome and Trisha Dreslinski claimed the accurate arm contest last year.
“They like (the contests),” Beckwith said. “It takes a lot to get into that home-run swing and get it over (the fence). But they come along. A lot of people usually want to participate in it, though.”
Players who want to participate can get in touch with Beckwith through Facebook. All they have to do is friend either Beckwith or her mom, Tracey to get to the event. They can also email Beckwith via beckwith5@embarqmail.com.
Ettinger is a freelance writer from Ashtabula.
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