Batter Up! Wiffle Fest Returns to Homewood in July

Dig out that dented yellow bat and favorite Wiffle ball, and knock off the dust before this year's Wiffle Fest, planned for July 20 at Apollo Park. Teams from across the nation will take to the fields to crown a Wiffle Fest champion in two divisions during the day-long fest.

“It's an event we've put on, oh, it's our ninth year,” said H-F Park District Recreation Supervisor Keith Jones. “It's the game we all played as kids and we just wanted to make a fun organized tournament.”

The day-long fest features two division: Fast Pitch and Recreation, with teams signing up for one division. In the fast pitch division, players do not run the bases. Recreation features a slower, medium-paced pitch and base running, Jones said, with teams ranging from three to five players.

“We try to keep it around 18 (years old) and up, but we've let kids that are 16 or 17 play with their parents' teams,” Jones said.

Of the two divisions, Jones said that the Recreation Division is where most of the action takes place, with games featuring high scoring, home runs and more.

There is a $118 entry fee, per team, payable upon registration. Teams can sign up for Wiffle Fest through the H-F Park District website, through WiffleFest.net, or by calling the park district at 708-957-0300. The cost of the event includes at least three games, lunch and a day full of fun.

“We just want everyone to come and have a good time, it's their time to shine,” Jones said. “It's a darn good time.”

—By Jeff Graveline

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