Neighbors, friends, and families are gearing up for the first Night at the Ballpark, a community softball tournament happening Saturday, September 13, at Grover Community Park, 275 Main Street.

Event organizer Mitchell Wolfley said the idea for the event came from memories of ward tournaments held years ago. “They used to have the big tournaments when I was a kid,” he said. “I loved going and watching my dad play all the time. Then it went away for the adults. We decided this year we were going to fire it back up.”

Games will begin at 4 p.m. with Auburn Ward vs. Meadows Ward, followed by Auburn vs. Grover at 5:15 p.m., and Grover vs. Meadows at 6:30 p.m. Hotdogs, salads, and homemade root beer will be provided, and community members are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and a side dish to share.

While the tournament is organized around the Auburn, Meadows, and Grover wards, everyone in the area is invited to participate or cheer from the sidelines. “You don’t have to be from the ward to play,” Wolfley said. “It’s really about bringing people together.” Those who would like to play just need to show up and they can play during their ward area’s time slot.

“We just want community togetherness,” he said. “There are a lot of new families moving in, and this is a great opportunity to get to know your neighbors. Plus, it gives us bragging rights for the area, like it used to be when I was younger.”

Organizers hope to see a good turnout and say if the event is successful, it may grow into something even bigger in the future. “It’s a great opportunity to get to know your neighbors,” Wolfley said. “That’s really what this is all about.”

Note: If the weather is poor, the tournament is planned to be rescheduled.