MARA Baseball and Softball Families:

MARA is hosting a Hit-A-Thon fundraiser for baseball and softball on Friday May 8th, beginning at 5pm, and we need your support! The funds raised will replace and upgrade the batting cages located near Fields 2, 6, 7, 9, 12 and 13. Our cages are well-loved and need improvements. These new cages will allow the park to offer more batting cage slots to both baseball and softball which will be helpful when practices are delayed due to rain.

The brand-new cages will feature a turf floor and upgraded netting, mirroring the new batting cages on Fields 1, 4, 8, and 10, which were made possible from previous year's Hit-A-Thons. 

The Hit-A-Thon is much like a fun run at school. Each player will receive 10 pitches. Friends and families can pledge a certain amount for each pitch that is hit, or donate a flat amount. With approximately 900 baseball and softball players at MARA this spring, if every player raised $50, the Hit-A-Thon could provide $45,000!

100% of the proceeds will benefit the baseball and softball programs and all donations are tax deductible. 10% of proceeds will be directed to the John Duncan Memorial Scholarship Fund, directly benefitting student-athletes in need of financial aid.

The team in each division that raises the most money will win a pizza party! The team that raises the most money overall will receive tickets to an upcoming Charlotte Knights game! 

How You Can Help:

• Spread the word! Send the link to your player’s page via email or text or share the link on social media. Tell your friends and family why this fundraiser is important to you!

• Cheer your player on during the Hit-A-Thon! It will be a fun evening for the kids and families. The Hit-A-Thon will be held on Friday May 8th  beginning at 5:00pm am at MARA. It will be a fun night with food and other activities for the entire family. 

• Register for the Home Run Derby (ages 18+). Scroll down for more information and the registration link.

• Share this link for general donations not tied to a player or the Home Run Derby: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/2026hitatthon

Using the links below, you will see a 'Search for Participant' box where you can find your player. Each age division has its own page set up with player names already loaded.  

Baseball Links:

T-Ball: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/2026tballh

AA: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/2026aaaaah

AAA: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/2026aaahit

Minors: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/2026minors

Majors: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/2026majors

Little League Juniors: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/2026little1

Little League Seniors: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/2026little2

Travel Baseball: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/2026travel2

Challenge Baseball: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/2026challe

Softball Links: 

Rookies Softball: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/2026RookiesSoftball

Minors Softball: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/2026MinorsSoftball

Majors Softball: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/2026MajorsSoftball

Middle School U Softball: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/2026MiddleSchoolU

High School U Softball: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/2026HighSchoolU

Travel Softball: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/2026travel3

Challenge Softball: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/2026challe1



Thank you for helping us improve the park! We cannot do this without your help.

Questions, comments are concerns can be directed to [email protected]. 

In addition to the Hit-A-Thon, we are adding a chance for adults to participate in a home run derby. For a $25 donation, you will receive 5 softball pitches. Lines in the outfield will mark a point structure. At the end of the night, the scores will be tallied, and the three highest point totals will be awarded a Dicks Sporting Good Gift Card from $50-$100 each. 

Click here to register for the Home Run Derby with a $25 donation: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/2026homeru1

The area on the hill behind fields 12 and 13 will get a major overhaul with the Hit-A-Thon funds. Currently the area is mainly dirt with a few batting cages and a bullpen. The new plan would create a multi-stall batting cage (3 or 4) along with two 60’ bullpens.  The cages and bullpens would be turfed. The batting cages and bullpens near fields 2, 6, and 9 will be replaced and refreshed with funds raised from the Hit-A-Thon.

Last year, MARA families raised nearly $30,000, which was used to replace the batting cage near Field 8 and replace netting in other batting cages around the park. Let's keep the momentum going this year so that every field can benefit from a new and improved batting cage area! We are in year three of a multi-year goal to raise $120,000 to replace and improve all batting cages. 

Field 8  - New Batting Cage Installed in 2025