JACKSON – The James Volpe Foundation will host its eighth annual Wiffle Ball tournament and family day at the Holbrook Little League baseball complex in Jackson on Aug. 4.
The foundation is named for James Volpe, who died in a motor vehicle accident during his senior year at Jackson Memorial High School in 2011. Volpe was a baseball player at Jackson Memorial and was planning to attend Kean University.
Money raised by the foundation funds scholarships that are presented to seniors at Jackson Memorial High School and Jackson Liberty High School who emulate James Volpe’s character, according to John Mucia Jr., who is the foundation’s vice president.
“(The tournament) was designed by the founding members of our foundation just three months after James passed away in 2011. One of the things we all loved to do as kids was to play Wiffle Ball, especially in James’ backyard. It was something he really enjoyed so we thought it would be something people would come out for and be supportive of, not knowing how big this foundation would grow over the past eight years,” Mucia said.
For the Wiffle Ball tournament, there will be a maximum of 50 teams and two divisions: an adult division and a youth division.
“I get to see a ton of people I may not have seen since the prior year,” Mucia said.
He said the event offers a good reason to bring people together.
“As you get older, people get busy, they have jobs, they move away … I have plenty of people who were friends with James who come back every year. They make special arrangements just to come to the event and that is something I definitely appreciate, his parents appreciate and something I know James would appreciate,” Mucia said.
The entry fee is $20 per player and there will be three or four players on each team. The entry fee includes a T-shirt, a Wiffle Ball, food and non-alcoholic beverages. Beer will be sold separately and require proper identification.
“If folks want to sign up they can do so by going on our website and mailing in the registration form. We will have a couple of in-person registrations at the Little League fields before the event,” Mucia said.
More information about registration can be found at www.jamesvolpefoundation.org and on the foundation’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
Wiffle Ball play will begin at about 10 a.m. Aug. 4 (rain date Aug. 5). Family day will start at about noon. Activities will include rides, face painting, raffles and music. Admission to family day is $5 per person. All are welcome to attend.