ANN ARBOR, Mich. – It’s an annual event that will leave you saying, “Go Blue!” and “Go Pink!”
The 2023 Michigan Softball Academy sponsored by the University of Michigan women’s softball team is scheduled for Thursday, April 27, on Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium. The 14th annual fundraiser benefits the American Cancer Society, and funds breast cancer treatments and research in Ann Arbor and throughout Southeast Michigan.
In 2022, the Softball Academy raised more than $171,000 under the leadership of legendary Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins. The academy, going virtual in 2020 and 2021 amid the pandemic, raised a combined $200,000.
In 2018, the Wolverines became the first NCAA women’s team, in any sport, to raise $1 million for the American Cancer Society. Since 2010, the annual event has raised more than $1.5 million for the ACS Making Strides Against Breast Cancer initiative.
During this year’s event, volunteer team captains and their registered team members will participate in a fantasy camp of sorts on Alumni Field. Participants will spend the evening interacting with Wolverines softball student athletes, who will teach them the tips and tricks on how to successfully throw, hit, pitch, catch, run the bases, and slide.
The evening will conclude with a social mixer inside the Jack Roth Stadium located atop Michigan Stadium. The event will feature food, drinks, a silent auction, and a guest panel moderated by Ira Weintraub, co-host of “The Michigan Insider” on “The Ticket.”
The spirit of the academy is carried on yearly by the volunteer team captains, many of whom have been involved since the first event in 2010. They make it their goal each year to energize their teams to fundraise to help the American Cancer Society achieve its goal of defeating breast cancer.
This year, for the third time in the event’s history, a home run derby featuring former Michigan Football players will be held at the conclusion of the on-field portion of the event. Former Wolverines quarterback Devin Gardner and Michigan Football play-by-play voice Doug Karsch are scheduled to participate. Click here to learn more about the Home Run Derby.
In 2016, former Michigan player and current Michigan Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh squared off with former Wolverine Rick Leach. Harbaugh failed to hit a home run during 15 attempts, while Leach -- who played 10 seasons of Major League Baseball -- hit one home run to claim victory.
Each year, the event is spearheaded by an honorary chairwoman -- and this year, Hutchins and the academy committee selected Local 4′s 4Warn Meteorologist Ashlee Baracy. She’s a University of Michigan alumna, former captain of the university’s dance team, and she served as Miss Michigan 2008 and was a top 10 finalist in the Miss America pageant.
Baracy’s career has come full circle, as she started at WDIV in 2010 as a traffic anchor, general assignment reporter and fill-in meteorologist. She is passionate about raising awareness for cancer in honor of her parents, who are both survivors.
So far, 18 teams and more than 155 participants have registered for this year’s event -- and they’ve raised $91,000 toward the event’s fundraising goal of $150,000.
Click here to learn more about the event, to sign up, and/or to donate.
Hear legendary coach Hutchins talk about the annual event in the video player up above.