“Now batting, for the University of Pennsylvania, number 1740, catcher, Benjamin Franklin.”

Penn students, faculty and staff, and the surrounding West Philadelphia community can “batter up” for the University’s “Year of Games” by playing in a charity softball game to benefit breast cancer awareness and research.

On Sunday, Oct. 23, eight student teams and eight teams comprised of faculty, staff, family and friends will compete in a tournament from noon to 5 p.m. at the new softball field at Penn Park.

All teams are co-ed, and registrants can either sign up as a team with up to 15 players, or enter as a free agent and be matched up with a team in need of a player. Registration is open until Wednesday, Oct. 19. There is an entry fee of $100 for student teams, and $250 for faculty, staff and community teams.

The winners of each bracket will compete for the championship. Cash prizes will be awarded to the 1st place finishers and the runner-up. The championship game begins at 4 p.m.

All funds raised will be donated to the Save 2nd Base foundation, which raises money to support breast cancer awareness, education and research.

“We’re getting students involved, faculty and staff involved,” says tournament organizer Troy Majnerick, an assistant director of New Student Orientation and College House programming. “We’re doing something that’s fun, and also doing something that has meaning.”

For guys and gals that dig the long ball, there is a home run derby from 1 to 4 p.m. The “Year of Games” will donate $5 to Save 2nd Base for every homer hit. The derby winner takes home a $50 prize.

In addition to watching the softball games, spectators can also play traditional picnic pastimes, such as beanbag toss, Frisbee and kickball.

Everyone who attends is a potential winner. Raffle items include a Kinect for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or an air hockey or pingpong table.

All of the events are open to the public.

For more information about the tournament and the home run derby, visit the Year of Games website.