Relay for Life's mushball a hit

PORTALES — After a successful inaugural year, teams will once again be able to hit a soft, squishy ball with their friends and family at the Portales Relay for Life.

The second annual co-ed mushball tournament will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday with teams competing in the name of cancer research and having fun doing it, according to coordinator Consuelo Cuevas-Florez.

“I call them my softball family, the players. I go, ‘Why not bring them into the Relay for Life? They would have just as much fun as I have fun, because I enjoy playing softball.’ It’s just friendship. You build great friends, and I really enjoy it,” she said. “All of us have been touched by cancer one way or the other, whether ourselves or a family member or a friend. I just enjoy being part of the Relay for Life.”

Mushball, according to Cuevas-Florez, is similar to softball, except the ball is 16 inches around and completely soft.

“With the mushball, there’s no need for gloves, because it’s soft. You can catch it with your hands. It’s very hard to hit far with it, because the mushier it becomes, it stays pretty much inside the field,” she said.

Last year’s tournament brought 12 teams, and that number has already been surpassed passed, with 18 teams currently registered, said Cuevas-Florez, adding that the tournament’s second year will feature a home run derby with competitors having 10 pitches.

Cuevas-Florez guaranteed a memorable time to registrants, and touted the cause the tournament supports.

“It’s in remembrance of those who lost their battle with cancer, or those who fought and won. I just think it would be a wonderful thing to participate in. It would just bring the whole community together,” she said.

Those interested in forming a team for the tournament can still do so at relayforlife.org/portalesnm or by calling Cuevas-Florez at 575-693-9555.

Registration is $10 per person, but each team needs at least 10 players.