A packed crowd, lively atmosphere and two competitive games highlighted Friday night’s annual Zephyrhills High School baseball and softball fundraising matchup, an event that continues to grow into one of the community’s favorite traditions.
The Zephyrhills High School boys baseball team defeated the ZHS girls softball team 11–6 in the varsity contest, while the boys also claimed a 15–12 win in the junior varsity game.
But the scores were only part of the story.
Fans lined the outfield fence with cars parked bumper-to-bumper, while others watched from the beds of pickup trucks. Children ran around playing near the field, and parents, friends and family members filled the stands, cheering loudly for their favorite teams and players.
Now in its fifth year, the free-admission event has steadily grown and become a strong fundraiser for both programs. Funds are raised through the sale of pulled pork dinners, priced at $10 each, with proceeds supporting the baseball and softball teams.
ZHS softball coach Kristin Dumont and ZHS assistant baseball coach Tim Dobbins have both been part of the event since its inception.
“It’s a great community event,” Dumont said. “Yeah, this place was packed. Well, it’s free, but they get dinner for $10. They get something to do on a Friday night in Zephyrhills and they get to watch two games. And they get to support the girls’ and boys’ programs.”
Beyond fundraising, Dumont said the game serves as an important early-season benchmark.
“It’s important,” she said. “I mean, we wouldn’t be doing it for five years if it wasn’t important. So it’s just like a kickoff to our season. It kind of shows us what we have and what we have to work on coming into our preseason.”
Dobbins echoed that sentiment, noting both the event’s growth and its impact on the community.
“And it’s grown,” Dobbins said. “Oh yeah. I don’t know if it turned out to be good tonight with the weather the way it’s been, but I think this is the best one we’ve had.”
While acknowledging the inherent risks of a competitive exhibition, Dobbins emphasized what makes the game special.
“I hate the game because sometimes you get an injury,” he said. “But I love the game because it brings the community together. The teams are competitive and they have fun. And that’s the most important.”
As the cheers faded and the crowd slowly dispersed, one thing was clear: the annual ZHS baseball-softball fundraiser has become more than just a preseason tune-up—it’s a celebration of community, competition and Bulldog pride.