Battleball 7: ‘Hitting for Harris’
One-pitch tournament draws hundreds at Medart Rec Park
Winning adult team
Winning junior team
Story & PHotos By LINDA ANN McDONALD Correspondent
Friday, June 2nd, Battle 14 organized its latest and largest Battleball tournament at the Medart Rec Park.
The 10-bracket competition was won by Adult division champions Reed Gamers and Jr. Champions Coastal 28. The game was organized to benefit Jason ‘JT’ Harris who is diagnosed with cancer. Harris is a member of Grace Baptist Church, Crawfordville.
Battle 14 is a nonprofit organization founded by Donny Bennett. BattleBall 7 was the biggest field ever with 10 adult teams and four Junior. teams.
The crowd at the Battleball tournament at the Medart Rec Park.
Battle 14 stands for testimonies of people that keep battling even in moments that you feel you can’t keep going.
Allie Harris, JT’s niece, a participant in the event said, “This is a great way for the community to come together to support a local family during a difficult time. This Christian based event is awesome and God will bless this event and help all who need prayer and support and comfort.”
“This event will help the Harris family, a family who is always out in the community helping others,” said MJ Stoffel, an event participant. “This is a way the community and my family can show their appreciation for the Harris family. This is also a great way for those who do not know the family, who want to come out and have fun to help a family in need.”
Allie Harris, JT Harris’ daughter, Vanessa Harris, his niece, with Ramsey Swanson, his great niece, all holding up a picture of JT.
JT Harris said, “I feel the power of God working through this (event). We are so grateful for the community coming together, I didn’t know that many people cared. When I heard Donnie’s speech, it was so positive and awesome, I can’t get over all the pictures and messages shared with me. This event shows all the good things God can do.”
JT’s wife Crystal said, “I am blown away by this entire thing. When I was young, I was in and out of church, now I have a community that feels like a large family, people I don’t even know. I do not have the words to express it all, but all I can say is that it is truly God working.
“I can promise,” she added, “if you have any doubts about a situation, God will show you and comfort you through faith that God’s got this. God is not on my shoulder; He is slapping me in the face with all that He can do with His power.”
Donnie Bennett said, “This event shows how a competition can bring a community together to help those in need. Every bit of the event was volunteer work – every umpire, every athlete, DJ Butch. we share and magnify the positive things.”
DJ Butch performing Christian music.
“Battle 14 is still growing and still gaining traction and my goal is to make this a full-time ministry. This ministry is not about Donnie, it is blessing families through other families coming together.”
The Tartts – Jimbo, dad Leonard, son Trapper – and Tracy Alvarez making pulled pork sandwiches.
Donnie Bennett with 10-team brackets for the Battleball tournament.
Alvin Young of Grace Baptist Church.
One -Pitch Tournament Rules:
1. Games will be 40 minutes or 7 innings.
2. Up to 11 player line up, 9 on field
• Bring the players you want female or male
• Every female that crosses the plate is 2 runs
• 2 HRs then an out
• Females have unlimited HRs
• Run rule is 20 after 3, 15 after 4, and 10 after 5
3. Courtesy runners. Only a female can pitch run for another female to receive double run.
4. You get one pitch, NO EXTRA FOUL
• 3ft-10ft arch
• Ball must hit mat behind plate to be a strike
• Pitcher must be in circle
5. Ground rule double if the ball bounces over outfield fence
6. BattleCoins
• If your team turns a double play, they collect a BattleCoin
• You can only win or use one BattleCoin per inning.
• A BattleCoin can be used as an out or as an extra swing for any batter.
• If you use the BattleCoin for an out, it would be either the next batter up that inning or the batter starting the next inning that hits next.
• You can bet your BattleCoin for a homerun. You give the umire your BattleCoin, you get one pitch. Its either a homerun or an out, nothing else counts.
• You cannot use your BattleCoin to cancel another team’s coin after the 5th inning.
• BattleCoins will run over.
BattleBall Junior Rules ages 8-14
There are only a few differences between the rules for the adults and juniors
• Females are not 2 runs.
• Head coach will be all time pitcher for the team and doesn’t hit or field.
• Every player under 11 years old on a team gets 1 run up to 5 runs to start the game.
The Battle Partners of God for this event included whole smoked Boston Butts and sandwich plates provided by JB’s Sopchoppy Sauce, DJ Butch, Wakulla Youth Baseball, Ashton Trucking, Dominos of Crawfordville, Howdy’s Rent A Toilet, American Threads USA, and individual monthly donors and many volunteers.
BattleBall 8 is coming soon. Donnie Bennett can be reached at Battle.14@gmail.com or (850) 528-5019.