The last Friday in July brings a chance for fun and competitionfor local softball lovers, as the Loyd Star Volunteer FireDepartment is hosting its second annual summer softballtournament.

Loyd Star Fire Chief Mark Porter said the tournament was startedas a chance for men and women to get out in the fresh air and knockthe ball around for a good cause.

“We wanted to get started telling people about it early so theycan get their teams together, because sometimes it’s a little hardto pull a team out of the woodwork in just a few days,” he said.”It’s a co-ed tournament so anybody that wants to get in it can,but that means men bat left-handed and women bat their regularway.”

Porter said the event comes at the end of the month becausethere are other tournaments in the surrounding area, and organizersdidn’t want the schedules to conflict. That being said, though,Porter said teams can just use the Loyd Star tournament as theirbig finale.

“There’s one in Jackson two weeks before it, and there’s abenefit at Enterprise the week before, so if you have a teamtogether, the next weekend just come to Loyd Star and play,” hesaid.

The games will take place Friday and Saturday at the Loyd StarAttendance Center softball and baseball fields. The teams are madeup of 10 people, though teams can have a few extras to rotate out,Porter said. There will be concessions sold and T-shirts andtrophies for the first and second place teams.

The cost to enter is $125 per team, Porter said, and all theproceeds go to Loyd Star Volunteer Fire Department.

“We’re trying to get our equipment up to current standards,” hesaid. “We’re working with some turnout gear and air packs that arenot up to the safety standards anymore, and we’re trying to makesure we can keep our firefighters safe while they’re protecting thecounty.”

Anyone interested in putting a team in the Loyd Star Tournamentcan call Porter at 601-757-1772.