Tulsa Little League Tourney To Help Tornado Victims

Lacie Lowry, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Baseball players are braved the heat today for a good cause. The "Heroes on the Diamond" tournament is raising money to help tornado victims in the Sooner State and Joplin.

The boys of summer are back for the second annual Heroes on the Diamond. This year, the charity tournament is focused on tornado relief, especially in Joplin.

"It just seemed like a natural fit for us to help get the Oklahoma baseball community helping the Joplin baseball community," said Mike Payne, Tournament Organizer.

One of the many losses in Joplin was a youth baseball field. The Campbell family knew it well.

"The field that was destroyed was a field that they played on, it was a field that I played on, it was a field that my dad played on, so it's been around since the 50s. It's really a landmark in our community," said Joplin Parent Brandon Campbell.

"It made me feel sad, because I like that field and I like to play baseball. It's my favorite sport," said Fielding Campbell, Joplin Baseball Player.

More than 300 little leaguers between the ages of 7 and 13 are playing in this tournament, hoping to help get the Joplin players back on their field by next spring.

"Just the idea that a community two hours from us would be willing to come out and spend their time in this 100 degree weather to help us out, it means a lot," Brandon Campbell said.

Helping families and children in need is the goal of Heroes on the Diamond.

Last year, the tournament helped Jeremiah Mitchell, a 6-year-old Oologah boy. Jeremiah had his arms and legs amputated after contracting bacterial meningitis, and then his home was destroyed in a storm.

"If every one of these kids can just learn a little bit about helping others and that you can have fun helping others, you can pick something you like to do and help somebody else, then we've done our job," Payne said.

Heroes on the Diamond is also planning a trip to Joplin to see the community, meet more people who live there and help out in any other way they can.