LA PLUME — Keystone College will play a leading role in the Fourth Annual Bill Howerton Strikeout Cancer Weekend April 9-10.

The event, which has raised nearly $20,000 since it began in 2013, will feature numerous high school and collegiate baseball and softball games played at local colleges and PNC Field.

Keystone’s softball team will host Rosemont College in a Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) doubleheader on Saturday, April 9 at Edmunds Field in La Plume starting at noon, a day before hosting a softball clinic that will help benefit the cause. The Giants’ baseball team will take on Cairn University in the second game of a doubleheader at PNC Field on Sunday, April 10 in a CSAC contest starting at 1:30 p.m. The University of Scranton will play U.S. Merchant Marine at 11 a.m

Keystone College will also host five high school baseball and softball games throughout the weekend as part of the event which features 26 high school baseball teams, 12 college baseball teams, 10 high school softball teams and two college softball teams.

The Scranton Prep and Lackawanna Trail baseball teams will play at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 9 at PNC Field.

Keystone College will host a high school baseball tripleheader on April 9 with Tunkhannock playing West Scranton at 11 a.m., Old Forge playing Meyers at 1:30 p.m. and Wallenpaupack playing Crestwood at 4:30.

Abington Heights will play Lakeland in baseball at noon on Sunday, April 10 at King’s College.

The Abington Heights and Nanticoke softball teams will play at 4:30 p.m. on April 10 at Keystone College.

Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. The proceeds from T-shirt sales and raffles will go directly to the American Cancer Society. Anyone interested in purchasing T-shirts, which are $10, or making a donation, is encouraged to contact Jamie Shevchik, Keystone College’s head baseball coach, at jamie.shevchik@keystone.edu or 570-977-2544. All checks should be made payable to the “Bill Howerton Memorial Fund.”

Howerton was a member of the local baseball community for more than 30 years before he passed away in August of 2012. Howerton served as head baseball coach at The University of Scranton from 1987 through 2002 and worked at Battaglia’s Sporting Goods in Scranton.

A native of Scranton, Howerton led The University of Scranton Royals to a Freedom League title in 1997. He also led the program to back-to-back MAC tournament berths in 1990 and 1991. He also coached the softball team at Lackawanna Junior College.

In 2002, Howerton received a merit award upon induction to the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

Abington Heights baseball, softball teams will be represented

For Abington Journal

Information provided by Keystone College.