CLEVELAND — A weekend of coed softball — with a home run derby Friday night to kick things off — will be held Saturday and Sunday as a way to raise funds for Hannah Roberts, a 13-year-old who has been fighting breast cancer.
Miranda Renee Stephens has organized the event, lining up 11 coed teams to play Saturday and Sunday at the Cornerstone Baptist Church field in Cleveland and the Enon Baptist Church field on Enon Church Road, nearer to Salisbury.
A home run derby for men and women, with individual trophies for the winners, will be held beginning at 6 p.m. Friday at the Cornerstone field. (The church is located at 200 Clearview Drive, Cleveland, behind the IGA grocery.)
Hannah Roberts is a rising eigth-grader and softball player at West Rowan Middle School. Her story was featured in the Post last week.
A breast cancer awareness fundraiser for Roberts also is being held from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. today at M&A Off-Road & Automotive, 11490 Statesville Blvd., Cleveland. The day includes hot dogs, funnel cakes, a car wash, raffle items and the “She’s a Fighter” truck.
On Friday, the softball home run derby participants will pay $10 for 10 pitches.
Men will have to hit balls over the outfield fence. Women will have to hit balls at least past a 200-foot line in the outfield.
Saturday’s games will start at 8 a.m. Sunday’s games begin at 1 p.m. The championship game probably will be held around 4 or 5 p.m. Sunday, Stephens predicted.
Tournament players have to be 18 or older.
Raffle tickets will be sold during the two-day tournament for new cornhole boards and a handmade quilt. There also are silent auction items that include gift cards and baskets. All the prizes and auction items have been donated.
Stephens became acquainted with Hannah and her parents, Jimmy and Anita Roberts, during this year’s Relay for Life. With the help of her family and Pam and Ray Brothers, Stephens organized the tournament as a way to raise money for the Roberts’ ongoing medical expenses.
“I’m really big into softball,” Stephens said.
Hamburgers, hot dogs and bake sale items will be available at the tournament sites. Stephens said a championship plaque has been donated for the winning team.
“We are trying to make this big and raise as much money as we can for this loving family,” she said.

Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263.