Forget the Phillies' resurgence.
Or whether Chase Utley is still wearing red pinstripes.
Or whether Sam Bradford will be in uniform when the Eagles kick off their season on Sunday.
This weekend there is only one sports story in Delco.
And it is taking place in Marcus Hook.
For the 32nd year it will be our honor to decide the "best by test," as the best softball players in Delaware County compete in the Daily Times/Sunoco Logistics Champs & Charity Classic.
The action actually kicked off last night with the Coed Division in Mickey Vernon Park in Marcus Hook.
Men's Slow-Pitch play starts on Friday at several locations, leading up to the championship game Monday night in the Hook.
The weather looks like it is going to be perfect. But then again, longtime tournament director Boog Laird could have told us that. It was Laird who nearly three decades ago first coined the phrase, "It never rains in the Hook."
What this tournament does rain is goodwill.
The Daily Times family, like almost all families in Delaware County, has been touched by cancer over the years. That's why we quickly decided to change the focus of the tournament from simply deciding the best softball teams in Delco to a fundraising cause.
As usual, when asked Delaware County responded, opening their hearts - and wallets.
Since its inception, the tournament has raised more than $750,000 for the American Cancer Society and the fight vs. this dreaded killer. That number includes more than $25,000 pledged this year through sponsorships, donations and ini-kind donations. Our goal this year is $50,000.
Helping us great in that push is another great raffle ticket package, offering items as unique as Penn State-Notre Dame football tickets; Eagles, Flyers and Sixers ticket packages; and a grand prize of a Travel the World package, a week at the Desert Springs Mariott Vacation Club Villa that can be traded for any Marriott property worldwide, along with a $2,500 ticket voucher.
You can find a complete list of raffle prizes at champsncharity.com.
Tickets are $5 and can be purchased online or at Mickey Vernon Park down at the Hook during the tournament.
As it has been for the last three decades, the real winner of this tournament is the fight against cancer.
We could not be more proud to present it once again.
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