Many of the nation’s premier elite Wiffle Ball players gathered for the 2015 Memorial Day Home Run Derby and Wiffle Ball Game Sunday afternoon in Grace Ridge. Batting practice started the afternoon’s schedule at 4 p.m., followed by the Home Run Derby, the National Anthem and flyover, and finally the long awaited game at 6 p.m. The events were all held at the Casey/Roberts Memorial Field.

Wiffle Ball Commissioner Kenny Roberts gathered invited players from as far away as Richmond Hill, Georgia, Pulaski, Virginia, and Cincinnati, Ohio for the 10^th Annual Contest.

Roberts and neighbor Dave Casey first began playing Wiffle Ball following a conversation about playing outside all day as kids, and about the joy of creativity used by kids to make the games fun. Later that day, both the Casey and Roberts families played Wiffle Ball till after dark. Roberts said, “It was one of the best Memorial Days that I can remember!”

A new tradition was born that has continued and grown after Casey and Roberts agreed to play again the next Memorial Day weekend. Roberts said, “We made improvements to the field and invited others to join us.” A cardboard scoreboard and rubber bases were added that next year, and later additions have included a cardboard backstop, PVC pipe foul and flag poles, numerous outfield cardboard fence panels. A red, white and blue cardboard target was mounted that would net the batter $20 should they hit it.

Awards, all cardboard of course, were developed for Most Patriotic Player and the Big Star Award. The winner of the Home Run Derby gets a commemorative bat. This year’s winner was Cameron Rhodes of Lexington who hit seven home runs through two rounds of competition. Rhodes said, “I will proudly take this bat home and hang it up. But more importantly, we are here with great pride in our nation and for giving thanks to our troops, especially those that died for our country.”

Casey provides all the cardboard because he works in that industry. He said, “All the little kids remember their cardboard trophies. It is great to see them win the awards.”

So far, Casey doesn’t have an official title according to the First Lady of Competitive Wiffle Ball, Sharron Roberts. She said, “We are looking to develop a title for him, probably something about cardboard.” Casey’s house, just off the left field foul line, was once peppered by so many hard hit Wiffle Balls that some of the siding was damaged. Commissioner Roberts added, “We reluctantly had to move the whole field to the right so it wouldn’t happen again.”

Commissioner Roberts has been known for setting the rules sometimes as the games go along. I have never seen such lively Wiffle Balls. In the wake of “Deflategate” and the other commissioner, the NFL’s Roger Goodell, Roberts said, “I know how to use electrical tape to make those balls lively.” Only one traditional Wiffle Ball bat was in site and it was seldom used. Some home runs traveled over 200 feet. When the Home Run Derby started, Commissioner Roberts announced, “I get to hit first and get as many swings as I want.”

Near the end of the Home Run Derby, the first fly-by of four military jets occurred. Each year, those in attendance have come to expect the jets to circle the Grace Ridge development. The jets circled four more times as all the players and spectators sang a moving National Anthem. Commissioner Roberts claimed to have prior knowledge from his communications with the Pentagon about the flyover. He said, “I hear people say all the time that they are here for the Coca-Cola 600 but if that was so, why do we get five flyovers and they only get one down there?”

The Casey/Roberts field is dedicated to Wendell E. Roberts and Albert F. Roberts, both of whom were Kenny’s uncles and were killed in World War ll. The 2015 game was dedicated to the memory of Michael P. Culbert, U.S. Army veteran who passed in away in March, 2014. The American flag that flies over the field was flown by Wendell and Albert’s brother and Kenny’s dad during the 1960s and ’70s. Four previous and future players are currently serving the military.

Crissy Pahl, from Cincinnati, Ohio has played in the Memorial Day game four times. An accomplished softball player and finalist for the Cincinnati Bengals cheerleading tryouts, she said, “It is a mini-reunion of family and friends. I get to catch up with everyone and see the new faces. It is our Field of Dreams.

A neighbor, Mike Junda, lives just one street away. He said, “I wouldn’t be anywhere else. Neighbors gather to talk and have a good time. We haven’t seen each much over the winter and it is wonderful to visit with all the neighbors and family members. My daughter, Ariel, is here and brought her daughter, one year old Gracie Elizabeth to her first Memorial Day Wiffle Ball game.”

As the game drew to a close, Commissioner Roberts was asked if his team ever loses. He said, “No, that is not going to happen. I am 9-0 so far. I might tell them to change that 3 on the scoreboard to an 8, if I have to.”

Sharron Roberts said, “We will have dinner next and then play some corn hole. We have so many great neighbors and we’ve been out here enjoying each other. But this day has been all about remembering the people who sacrificed for our freedom. We have a lot of service members in our families now.”

Kenny Roberts added, “Our flag is not simply for decoration. It represents the true meaning of the Memorial Day. That flag flying in centerfield is a symbol of our freedom and our fallen heroes can speak to us through it. I hear their singular voice that says, ‘We did this for you.’”