LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Little Rock Trojans baseball team has a game set for Tuesday night at their home stadium, Gary Hogan Field.
It will be a softball game instead of baseball, but that’s not the only thing that’ll be unusual about it. Their opponents will be members of the Little Rock Fire Department.
“We just kind of wanted to get together,” said Matthew Stallings with the LRFD. “Get the firefighters and Little Rock Trojan baseball team together to play a softball game."
Stallings and Trojans Head Baseball Coach Chris Curry first set up this game in 2019. He said it was a success, but the 2020 edition was canceled due to the pandemic and was not held for the next few years.
Through the efforts of both Stallings and Coach Curry, the game will be back on this Tuesday night— and it’s not just for fun.
"We decided to make it for charity,” Stallings said. “And so that's when we found out that that UALR had a food pantry. And so we thought, you know, what a great cause."
Stallings said the LRFD will bring some canned food and nonperishable food items. They’re also asking for the community to do the same.
"We just ask that anybody that attends [the game] brings some kind of nonperishable food item for the food pantry," he added.
Other than that, admission is free.
According to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's website, the Trojan Food Pantry fights hunger on campus by providing food to UA Little Rock students, faculty, and staff.
No matter what the game will be a win in the fight against food insecurity, as well as for the fans in attendance.
But a win for the firefighters? That might be a lot to ask.
"We're going to hang in there for a little bit,” Stallings said. “And then, you know, these are division one college athletes. So once they get the timing down, it could be trouble."
The game will be at 6:00 p.m. at Gary Hogan Field in Little Rock on October 22, 2024.