Kocur's softball tourney for charity to be held Aug. 4

The 4th annual Joe Kocur and Celebrity Friends Charity Softball Tournament, sponsored by the Joe Kocur Foundation for Children, will take place on Saturday, Aug. 4 beginning at 11 a.m. at Duck Lake Pines Park in Highland Township.

The event will feature four games, beginning with a Little League game at 11 a.m., followed by a sponsor appreciation game at 1 p.m. and a special law enforcement game at 3 p.m. featuring law enforcement officers and firefighters from Milford, Highland Township, White Lake Township and Oakland County.

The Red Wings celebrity game is scheduled for 5 p.m. and will include appearances by former Detroit Red Wings such as Darren McCarty, Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby, Dino Ciccarelli, and Manny Legace, along with other Detroit-area sports and entertainment celebrities.

There will also be children’s activities, including a bounce house and a dunk tank.

Proceeds from the event will benefit charities, including Team Kendal Kidz, Wings of Mercy East Michigan, Far Conservatory, The Huron Valley Special Olympics and the Huron Valley Lakeland High School Public Service Scholarship.

The event is the brainchild of Kocur, a Highland resident who had a 15-year NHL career that included three Stanley Cups, including two back-to-back championships with the Red Wings in 1997 and 1998.

There will be hot dogs and pizza available from Hungry Howies and Leo’s Coney Island, as well as a raffle prizes that fans will be entered into with the purchase of their ticket. Fans can also bid during a silent auction on items ranging from sports memorabilia and gift certificates to restaurants and spas.

Tickets are available for purchase at the Milford and White Lake police and fire departments, as well as Bakers of Milford, the South Lyon Hotel and the Comeback Inn of Highland. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.joekocurfoundation.com, www.joekocur.eventbrite.com or www.wingseastmi.org until the day of the event.

Gates will open at 10 a.m. for early access into the venue, and free shuttle service from a nearby location on M-59 will be available for overflow traffic.

Tickets are priced at $10 per person for advanced tickets, while tickets at the door will be priced at $15. Children under 10-years-old are admitted free.