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Vidor returns this Friday for a second straight year to join the Nederland Bulldogs in raising money for The American Cancer Society in the Strike Out Cancer Softball games.

The day will begin with a walk around the bases in honor of those fighting cancer and in memory of those lost to it at 2:15 p.m.

“Players, people in the community, anyone who wants to can walk around the bases in memory of somebody, or in honor of somebody fighting cancer,” Nederland head coach Will Mallette said. “It’s a big emotional thing for people who dealt with loss or are fighting it right now, and it’s a way to honor what they’re going through.”

The first pitch will be thrown by Cindy Ford, a cancer patient and aunt of Nederland player Savannah Maxwell, following the walk to begin the junior varsity game at 2:30 p.m. Varsity will play at 4 p.m.

Mallette is thankful Vidor agreed to participate again this year.

“We try to do it every year,” he said. “In the past we’ve done it with Port Neches and we raised a ton of money as people came out to see us compete against each other.

It’s hard to find somebody to do the game because it’s not just that we wear pink belts and raise a little money. Usually we raise anywhere between $9,000 and $14,000, so it’s a big task.”

This year’s game includes raffles and a bake sale. Memorial balls and survivor balls will also be on sale, and Chick-fil-A and Casa Olé will donate a portion of their revenue made Friday as well.

Among the $100-plus raffle items are gift cards from Visa and Sombrero’s Mexican Grill, A Michael Kors purse, a Young Living essential oils basket and a Scentsy gift basket.

“Parents are involved, kids are involved in getting donations,” he said. “It’s a really big task during your season, and a lot of time goes into it. We try to set it on a Friday. It’s just a bunch of work that day that goes into setting up, and all the stuff that’s involved, so it’s a lot better doing it on a Friday than on a Tuesday.”

Mallette is thankful to Vidor and all the parents that make the game successful.

“Vidor did really well,” he said. “I think they helped bring in 3,000 last year. A lot of that leg work is done by the parents, and I cannot say enough how much I appreciate them, because without the parents this would not even be possible.”