Today we are talking softball and Mariah’s Challenge with my cousin Jorey Thatcher.

You won’t see Jorey hitting any home runs Saturday when the police take on the firefighters in the Guns & Hoses softball game at Stodden Park.

He isn’t going to play in the game, probably because he got the Foley athletic gene instead of the one from the Thatcher side of his family.

But Jorey, or Officer Thatcher as I should probably be calling him, just might be the MVP of the whole event. He has been working tirelessly for months to put on this game that will raise money for the Mariah Daye McCarthy Scholarship.

More importantly, it will bring some awareness to Mariah’s Challenge as we approach the 19th anniversary of the death of 14-year-old Mariah McCarthy, who was run over and killed by an underage drunk driver while walking home with her friends.

Jorey, or Officer Thatcher, was just a young boy when that tragedy struck in the Mining City, but it clearly left a profound impact on him. Now he is working hard for an event that will bring the legacy of Mariah and the McCarthy family to the forefront of the mind of the community.

It will also be a whole lot of fun, especially with my boy Shawn Wetzel announcing the game. He’s worth the price of admission all by himself.

I should also note, that there is no charge to attend the game, which starts at 1 p.m. It will be followed by a home run derby. I will be there to keep the book and to heckle umpires Steve Bair and, mostly, Mike “Skinny” Foley.

Jorey, I mean Officer Thatcher, is predicting a mercy-rule victory by the police, but I wouldn’t count the firemen out just yet. They have a loaded lineup. This game could come down to the final inning and probably a blown call by an umpire.

Yesterday, I met with Officer Thatcher at the Metals Sports Bar & Grill for a fun conversation about the game, the players and the fun that is in store on Saturday. Listen in to see that you definitely do not want to miss this game.

Today’s episode is presented by Leskovar Honda, home of the non-commission sales staff that always has your back.