Tharptown hosts kickball tournament

Social events can go a long way toward bringing a church and the community closer together – and that is exactly what Jesse Franks, youth director at Tharptown Baptist Church, is trying to do.

With the help of Pastor Neil Rogers and other church members, Franks has organized TBC’s first T-town Showdown Kickball Tournament.

It will take place Oct. 8 from 2-8 p.m., at a location yet to be determined; Franks said it will depend on the number of teams that register.

“We might have it here at the church, but the goal is to have so many teams that we have to relocate and use the school’s fields,” he said.

Sign-ups are taking place now. Teams must have 10 members with at least three females on each team.

“We want it to be an equal opportunity for all involved,” Franks said.

Registration fee is $10 per team member, which includes a meal that will be provided by the church and a T-shirt that Franks is in the process of designing.

Each team will pick a team name, and Franks said he is encouraging the teams to bring as many supporters as they can because he plans on giving out a prize for the best cheering section.

“I want people to have fun, and I want the community to get involved,” he said.

There will be a cash prize for the first-place winners, and Franks said he is in the process of getting door prizes for winners whose names are drawn from the registration entries.

Registration will be open until Sept. 21. According to Franks, the best way to register is through the church’s website, www.tharptown.com, through the link on the homepage.