The annual fast-pitch softball tournament held in memory of Mikayla “Mick” Focht, will be held this Saturday and Sunday at Legion Park in Hollidaysburg.

The event that sponsors scholarships for softball players that are going to college was tabbed “4Mick” and created to honor former Hollidaysburg Area High School softball player Mikayla Focht who passed away in 2017. Focht was killed while riding as a passenger on an ATV.

In 2017, Dawn and Jamie Focht, Mikayla’s parents, told area softball coach Jim Payne, along with Brenda Johnsonbaugh, that they were going to memorialize Mikayla with a scholarship they would fund yearly. Soon after, Payne and Johnsonbaugh approached the parents and asked if they could do a softball tournament to support the scholarship.

They agreed, and the tournament was born.

Initially, it was supposed to be a one-year event, however, the support and participation was so strong that it became an annual event.

Food trucks will, again, be on site at Legion Park’s fields. In addition to the food trucks, a cruise-in car show will take place Friday from 5-9 p.m. with gates opening to all car owners and enthusiasts at 4 p.m. No pre-registration is needed. Admission is free to the public. Presenters are charged a $10 fee per car. A local band — “The Pines” — will perform from 7-9 p.m.

There is also a raffle for a 2023 Kawasaki Side-by-Side with only 1,000 tickets being sold.

“All of this in an effort to build the scholarship fund for many years to come,” Payne said.

This year the tournament sponsored scholarships awarded to nine local athletes — Olivia Hillegas (Everett), Ashlyn Snyder (Bellwood-Antis), Rachel Musselman (Hollidaysburg), Gracie Wilt (Altoona), Teagan Harzinski (Curwensville), Maya Hazenstab (Central), Anna Burke (Richland) and Elizabeth Pearson (Tyrone). The tournament scholarship was awarded to Ryan Seeger from Tyrone baseball in the honor of Kaleb Carper, a young Tyrone baseball player whose life was also tragically cut short.

The opening ceremonies will be at 7:30 a.m. on Field No. 2 at Legion Park, and Jamie and Dawn Focht will be on site to toss out the opening pitch. Several award winners will be on hand as well.

“We continue to be so humbled by the longevity and consistency of this event and we are thankful for the support the community gives. Mick would be astounded by the enormity of this event,” Dawn Focht said.

Again, this year the tournament will be using every softball field in the Altoona area. Teams will play at Legion Park, Columbia Field, Garfield, Fye Field in Logan Township Park and Logan Fields, the home of the Altoona Lady Lion softball teams. There are 45 teams in the tournament. A U10 age group was added this season.

“Again, we have several local food truck vendors who continue to support our event — Donutology, Meatball Madness, and Backwoods Smoke Shack will be on hand at Legion Park for our participants and the community,” Payne said.

Several local businesses have also donated time and money to the tournament, including Sam’s Club, Sheetz, Tuckahoe Valley Disposal, Discovery House, Paul Kane Sanitation, Reliance Bank, Underground Gym and newcomer Eagles Ridge Golf Course, located in Clearfield County.

“I continue to be thankful by the amount of teams and people that continue to support this event,” Payne said. “Some people have said to me that this may be the biggest charity softball event in the state. That is awesome, and a huge testament to the community we live in.”

Pole vaulter second

CHESTER — Altoona pole vaulter Colbie Billetdeaux recently earned a second-place finish in the 16th annual Ron Jackson United Age Group Track Coaches Association Youth Invitational at Widener University.

Billetdeaux cleared 9 feet to finish second in the 15-16 Intermediate Girls Division to Mila Huang of the Philly Jumps Club, who also cleared 9-0.

Billetdeaux is a sophomore at Altoona Area High School and is a member of the Pennsylvania Pole Vault Association.

Hardie places third

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Hollidaysburg native Chris Hardie placed third overall and earned a bronze medal in the pentathlon at the USA Track & Field Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships in late July.

Hardie, the director of cross country and track at Waynesburg University, scored 2,225 points in the 45-49 age division in his first pentathlon, held at North Carolina A&T’s Truist Stadium. He is a 1996 graduate of Hollidaysburg Area High School.