This year is the eightenth year for the City Of Hope's Celebrity Softball Game. In the past, some of the biggest names in country music have came out to participate in this amazing charity event. City of Hope raises money for Cancer and Diabetes research and patient care. This event is one day out of the year that the stars and fans can all come together for a couple hours and have fun while helping one of the most significant charities in the United States.
The two teams consist of multiple stars from all walks of the entertainment world. There are athletes and country singers and when you put them together, something is going to happen.
The "After Midnite" team consisted of Montgomery Gentry, Chuck Wicks, Jake Owen, James Otto, Jamey Johnson, Jimmy Wayne, Jo Dee Messina, Keith Anderson, Sara Evans and all the way from American Gladiators, Hollywood "The Wolf" Yates. The "Grand Ole Opry" team had some strong talent as well. Canadian newcomer Adam Gregory, Carrie Underwood, Chis Cagle, Danielle Peck, Luke Bryan, Phil Vassar, Vince Gill, Ashley Gearing and the Tennessee Titans Cortland Finnegan. Once the stars hit the field, fans started screaming, trying to get their favorite artists autograph.
When you're standing on the field looking towards the crowd, it's awesome to see how much the artists love their fans. This doesn't happen in any other musical genre and Americans need to keep these traditions alive.
Every member of both teams came together to sing the National Anthem, but then it was war. Jo Dee Messina pitched for her team, and Hollywood "The Wolf" Yates was the catcher, Vince Gill pitched for Team Opry. For those of you that follow the Muzik Mafia, Two Foot Fred was there and ended up getting a home run with the help of the American Gladiator himself who carried Fred around all the bases.
It wouldn't be a ball game without the famous tune "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" right? Well never fear, two gorgeous ladies from the Grand Ole Opry Team, Danielle Peck and Ashley Gearing performed a new, modernized version of this classic song. "Take Me Out To The Opry" was the outcome, and it included all the little things that make going to the Opry so much fun and they also made mention of the famous chocolate Goo Goo Clusters.
Folks, you just can't go wrong there! By the end of the game, the fans and stars were all sunburnt and thirsty, but it was for a great cause. No one was really keeping score that day, but if you want to know what it was, Blair Garner's After Midnite won with 8 points and the Opry only ending the game with 1 point.
