When East Hamilton and Ooltewah play baseball Friday at 7 p.m. at A.C. Bud Ball Field on the Ooltewah campus, the two teams – and both communities – will put their new but bitter rivalry on the backburner for the sake of a good cause.
The shared focus of the game will be directed toward breast cancer patients, said Gary Dupree, Ooltewah Booster Club president.
Players will wear pink arm bands in support of cancer awareness. A faculty representative that has survived cancer from each school will throw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to the game.
Dupree said Elaine Piegen, the Lady Owls’ volleyball coach, will represent Ooltewah.
Ooltewah baseball coach Brian Hitchcox and, Hurricanes coach Steve Garland have thrown their support into the game.
“With all the negative publicity between the schools with rezoning efforts and the dividing of the community with the new school (East Hamilton), we feel this is a great way to show everyone (that) we may be competitors at heart, but we really are friends and family that have grown up together in this area,” Dupree said in an e-mail.
(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com)