Local high school coaches, umpires and officials have organized a baseball and softball tournament to give senior players an opportunity to end their high school careers as best they can as COVID-19 continues to impact the Lehigh Valley and around the globe.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs will be doing their part in hosting the semifinalsand finals for each respective tournament at Coca-Cola Park.

“The IronPigs are honored to support seniors who have been affected greatly during this unprecedented time,” said IronPigs President and General Manager Kurt Landes. “To have the opportunity to end their careers at Coca-Cola Park will be special and we are ‘hog-wild’ with the opportunity to support this tournament giving the kids one last swing for the fences. I’m equally excited to be hosting senior recognition ceremonies for both the boys and girls providing one final opportunity to showcase local seniors and their high school careers.”

The high school girls’ semifinals and finals are presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network, MATHESON, and Service Electric Cable Television and will be held on Thursday, July 16. Service Electric will be televising both semifinal games and the championship game live from Coca-Cola Park. Our softball community is thrilled to have the opportunity to play at Coca-Cola Park,” said Freedom High School head softball coach Michele Laubach. “The amazing people from the IronPigs, Northwest Little League, Lehigh Valley high school softball coaches, and the local media have been incredible to work with to make this event come to fruition. It has been a lot of work to make this event happen and I appreciate all the good people I am surrounded by in the Lehigh Valley. It gives me great hope as we move forward and out of this pandemic.”

The first semifinal game will take place at 2:30 p.m. followed by the second semifinal game at 4:30 p.m. The senior players from each team will receive a special recognition at 6:30 p.m. with the championship game starting at 6:50 p.m.

e high school boys’ semifinals and finals are presented by St. Luke’s Health Network, MATHESON, and Service Electric Cable Television. The semifinals will be held on Sunday, Aug. 9 with the finals to be held on Monday, Aug. 10 at 5 p.m. Service Electric will be televising the finals on Monday, Aug. 10.

“When you think of Lehigh Valley baseball, the first thought that comes to my mind is the IronPigs,” said Assistant Director of Alumni Relations at DeSales University, Daniel Villanti. “The goal of our event has been to provide an absolute first-class and safe experience for the high school baseball players, especially the seniors class, and there is no better venue than Coca-Cola Park. I am truly grateful to our baseball community for coming together and bringing high school baseball back to the Lehigh Valley this August.”

Semifinal game times for Aug. 9 will be determined soon. The senior players will receive a special recognition between the two semifinal games on Aug. 9. The baseball finals on Aug. 10 will begin at 5 p.m.

The entire event will be facilitated using all up-to-date guidance from the Commonwealth of PA and the Allentown Health Bureau. Masks are required of patrons who enter Coca-Cola Park, except while sitting in their assigned seats. More information will follow soon for media availability as well as ticket and gate restrictions. Patrons who are invited to attend will not be charged admission.