LITTLE ROCK, AR (KATV) — Softball, wrestling and a whole lot of community spirit are headed to Jacksonville this weekend, all in the name of autism awareness and supporting Arkansans with developmental disabilities.
Pathfinder Inc., a nonprofit focused on making a difference in the lives of Arkansans with developmental disabilities, is partnering with Smash It Sports for the fourth annual Smash It Sports Pathfinder Autism Awareness Games.
Organizer Joe Stoute said the event is an adult slow-pitch softball tournament drawing 80 teams “from literally all over the country,” along with 60 pros and 13 major bat manufacturers.
The weekend lineup begins with an inclusive sports camp for kids ages eight and older in Conway. Stoute said the camp will be held at the Field House at 4:30. A wrestling event is also planned for Friday at the Jacksonville Community Center starting at 6 p.m.
The softball tournament is set to start at 8 p.m. and run through the weekend.
Stoute said the partnership with Pathfinder grew after the first year of the event, when it was simply a benefit tournament.
After touring Pathfinder’s facilities, he said he was struck by the range of services offered, from toddlers to adults, including helping people build job skills and supporting them in assisted living settings.
Money raised through the tournament helps fund Pathfinder’s athletics booster club, Stoute said, supporting athletes involved in Special Olympics and other sports such as swimming, basketball and softball.
Over the first three years, Stoute said the tournament raised about $18,000 to $20,000 for Pathfinder, and he expects that number to grow this year with additional sponsors.
Stoute said the tournament has expanded significantly since its first year, reaching what he described as a national level. He said the event won a 2020 5U Triple SA Community Service Award, and that many teams and companies make it a must-attend stop each year. Stute said 40 of the 80 teams are from out of state.
One of the weekend’s biggest moments comes Saturday at 2 p.m., when all games pause for a special Pathfinder game. Stoute said the tournament shuts down “absolutely everything” so 40 Pathfinder athletes can play softball with the pros, with the crowd cheering them on. He said about 500 people watched last year.
Stute encouraged people who want to see what makes the event unique to come out for that Saturday game, saying it’s what “really sets this thing apart.”
Sponsors mentioned as supporting the event include Fence Brokers, Chris Walker, LMA Financial, Raising Cane’s, David’s Burgers, J Cole Construction, Jacksonville Ads and Promotions, and Unity Health, along with others.