Pacers will be well represented at 7th annual Celebrity Softball Challenge

One of the best charity events of the summer in Indianapolis is Thursday. There’s all kind of them, but the Caroline Symmes Memorial Celebrity Softball Challenge is a great night out at Victory Field with some of Indy’s professional athletes and all money raised going to a special cause.

Paul George has taken a larger role in the Indianapolis community over the last few years.

The seventh annual challenge will be on Thursday, June 4th at Victory Field and cost $10 to attend. Paul George has picked up where teammate Roy Hibbert left off co-hosting the great event with Robert Mathis of the Colts.

Hibbert, according to sources, was ready to pass the torch after co-hosting it the last five years. He’s spending his offseason in Los Angeles.

I asked George on race weekend about his increased involvement in activities around the city.

“This is my city,” George said before riding in the IPL 500 Festival Parade. “A city that I came to love and it’s vice-versa. This city has shown me the most love. I don’t think I do enough to be honest.”

In addition to George, a dozen other Pacers personnel, past and present, are planning to be on hand. (Subject to change.)

Current Pacers: Paul George, C.J. Miles, Solomon Hill, Shayne Whittington — plus, head coach Frank Vogel.

Former Pacers: Quinn Buckner, Mel Daniels, Fred Jones, Vern Fleming, Eddie Gill, Darnell Hillman, Bob Netolicy, Rik Smits.

From the WNBA: Retired Fever guard Tully Bevilaqua and 2003 Indiana Miss Basketball, Katie Geralds of Beech Grove. Geralds has coached the Marian University women’s basketball team since July, 2013.

In addition to Mathis and tight end Dwayne Allen, double-digit players from the Colts organization are also expected to support their teammate and this great cause. The event is hoping to have about 10,000 fans come through and raise the high end of five-figures. Two years ago, more than $50,000 was raised.

The annual event benefits a great organization, the Indiana Children’s Wish Fund, which grants wishes to Indiana children, ages 3-18, who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening or terminal illness. In previous game, many of the children are present for the game and some ran the bases for the celebrities.

The Schedule:

5:00 p.m. — Gates Open
6:00 p.m. — Home Run Derby begins
7:00 p.m. — Seven-inning game begins

Highlights from the challenge in 2012: