Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Cancer benefit field sought

Batting Out Cancer tourney planned for Friday, Saturday.

CLOVIS — The Clovis Softball Association is working to have one of its smallest, but most meaningful tournaments this weekend.

The “Batting Out Cancer” tournament is set for Friday and Saturday at Guy Leeder Softball Complex, provided enough teams sign up for either a men’s division and a women’s division — and hopefully both.

Tournament director Roger Jackson sent an email to CSA members noon Saturday noting the tournament only had three men’s teams and one women’s team entered. About two hours later, Jackson said the numbers had bumped up to five men’s teams and three women’s teams, and based on that he was optimistic there would be enough men’s teams to meet the minimum threshold of eight.

Last year, Jackson said, the tournament had about 18 men’s teams and no women’s division despite some interest.

“It’s tough to do a division with less than eight teams,” Jackson said.

The tournament has been part of the association for about a decade, and signups are usually last-minute.

“Sometimes it makes it, sometimes it doesn’t,” Jackson said. “This year, it looks a little rough, but we’re still trying.”

Each year, the tournament benefits particular members of the CSA that are somehow impacted by cancer. This year, the tournament will benefit Becca Gomez and Sunny Martinez. Both are dealing with lupus, which is not a form of cancer in itself but is linked to increased rates of certain types of cancer.

“They’ve participated in our organization for a long time,” Jackson said. “This doesn’t pay all of their expenses, but it takes care of some things.”

The association has been off the last two weeks following the Custom Classic, and is prepping for its youth worlds tournament starting July 19.

When asked if teams might have some tournament fatigue so soon after the Custom Classic, Jackson was optimistic that wouldn’t be the case.

“There are tournaments in Santa Rosa, Amarillo and Hobbs this weekend (with Clovis participants),” Jackson said. “I do know there are a lot of things happening. It’s a hit or miss all the time.”

Teams can sign up by emailing Jackson at [email protected], with the $250 team payment due the day of the tournament.

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