MORRIS — In what has become an early spring tradition, the Morris Runnin' Redskins Baseball Bash will take place from 4-8 p.m. on March 11 at the Morris VFW Hall. The VFW Hall is located at 309 McKinley St. in Morris.
Tickets to the event cost $25 and include entry to the bash and access to the draw down, food, drink, and silent and live auctions loaded with baseball and other sports memorabilia.
"This has always been a good fundraiser for the baseball program," Runnin' Redskin Baseball Booster Club president Bob Bardash said. "The stores and their owners in Morris really come through for us as far as their donations go, and we expect they will again this year."
In the past, the auctions have included such items as Cubs tickets, Blackhawks tickets, the use of Clayton's Tap's party room for a private party and Joliet Slammers tickets, among other items.
The ball park-style dining menu will include brats, hot dogs, pizza, bash potatoes, treats, refreshments and more. The drawdown will begin at 5 p.m. and bash prizes will be given out every 25th draw, starting with $25 and finishing with a top prize of $1,200.
Bardash said that there are only 300 tickets available that include entry in the drawdown, but even people who don't want to be in the drawdown or weren't able to purchase a ticket can still show up at the VFW the night of the event and get in for $10. Those folks will still be eligible to partake of the food and drink and bid on any auction items, but will be ineligible for the drawdown.
The bash funds the Morris Community High School baseball boosters, which has purchased new uniforms and equipment and funded improvements at the field. The field is in the midst of having new fences put up all the way around it.
Last year, a new fence behind home plate and around the batting cages was purchased. There have already been improvements made behind home plate this year, filling in low spots and resodding that area.
"All of the funds except what goes to pay for the bash goes right back into the baseball program," Bardash said. "We want the kids and the program to have the best, and our community has been very helpful in that regard."
Tickets are available from the Morris Runnin' Redskin Baseball Boosters. For more information about the bash or to purchase a ticket, call Bob Bardash at 815-768-5556 or email bbardash@att.net.