Ohio State
Mount Vernon Nazarene
Ohio State Hosts the Play for Hope Charity Classic This Weekend
9/26/2024 6:46:00 AM | Softball
Buckeyes will be in action twice on Saturday and once on Sunday
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Softball fans have three opportunities to get a sneak peek at the 2025 Ohio State Buckeyes this weekend. That's because Ohio State will host the Play for Hope Charity Classic on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28-29, at Buckeye Field.
The premier event on Ohio State's fall schedule every year, the Charity Classic started in 2001 and ran for 19 consecutive years before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Like in past years, the event will occur exclusively at Buckeye Field. Action gets underway on Saturday at 10 a.m. and continues with a total of five games on Saturday and four on Sunday.
Division I, II and III teams from Ohio will be making the trip to Columbus, making it one of the largest showcases of softball at levels in the state. Admission is a $5 donation that will be collected upon entry at Buckeye Field.
The Charity Classic has raised over $250,000, making it one of the largest fundraisers for cancer awareness in central Ohio. Proceeds benefit The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. This year marks the 23rd year of the event.
Additionally, Ohio State coaches and players will be wearing t-shirts that represent cancer awareness. Those shirts will be available to purchase throughout the weekend with proceeds going to The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.
To purchase the t-shirts, fans can visit the Ohio State Team Shop at the following link: http://go.osu.edu/24CharityClassicTs
Full Charity Classic Schedule
All games will be played at Buckeye Field on the campus of Ohio State University
Saturday, Sept. 28
Wittenberg vs. Cedarville // 10 a.m.
Cedarville vs. Mount Vernon Nazarene // 12:15 p.m.
Tiffin vs. Wittenberg // 2:30 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Mount Vernon Nazarene // 4:45 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Tiffin // 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 29
Case Western Reserve vs. Ohio Dominican // 10 a.m.
Ohio Dominican vs. Case Western Reserve // 12:15 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Miami University // 2:30 p.m.
Case Western Reserve vs. Miami University // 4:45 p.m.
About the 2025 Buckeyes
Under the guidance of first-year head coach Kirin Kumar, Ohio State added nine players this offseason – five incoming freshmen and four transfers. The most experienced veterans are seniors Kami Kortokrax and Kaitlyn Farley, who have been three-year starters at shortstop and second base, respectively.
In the circle, Lexi Paulsen and Kennedy Kay return to are bolstered by the addition of freshmen Lorin Boutte, Layna Gerhard and Kassandra Gewecke.
Kumar comes to Ohio State after four highly-successful seasons at Miami University where the RedHawks won three MAC Tournament titles and also had some of the nation's best offensive teams. She brought assistant coaches Courtney Vierstra and Caitlyn Nolan with her while also adding Matt Guemmer, who spent the last two seasons on the coaching staff at Rutgers University.
