Papa Hops 16'' Softball Tournament Bracket Revealed

CHICAGO — The Papa Hops 16" Softball Tournament returns for its sixth year on Friday, July 12 and this year's event encompassing three neighborhood parks, 32 teams and thousands of spectators could be its biggest yet. The day-long softball tournament is a fundraiser for the Tom Hopkins Foundation, which raises money for youth sports and families of local cancer patients.

"We're expecting a big crowd," said Liam Hopkins, son of the late Tom "Papa Hops" Hopkins of whom the mid-summer Beverly/Morgan Park neighborhood tradition is named. More on the history of the Papa Hops Softball Tournament here

After all, the event date was front and center in the neighborhood for weeks when it occupied the giant billboard above Americanos at 111th and Western.

It’s @papahops19 week 7/12/19 #NeverEndTheFight pic.twitter.com/NE1uvsGKxl
— LiamHops (@LiamHops) July 8, 2019

"Last year, people said we had around 3,000 people come out and this year we are expecting the same, if not more," Hopkins said.

The structure of the 2018 tournament will remain the same this year. Early-round games of the single elimination tournament will be held at Kennedy, Beverly and Mt. Greenwood parks. During games in the first two rounds, all batters will begin with a 1-1 count.

By 7:15 p.m. all games will be moved to Kennedy Park, with the championship set for 9:45 p.m. under the lights.

Before the championship will be a ceremony to remember two neighborhood natives who very recently died of cancer. Family members of Matt Hooker and Molly Fetzer will throw out the first pitches to each other during the ceremony, Hopkins said.

The tournament has been played every year since 2014 in memory of Tom "Papa Hops" Hopkins, a beloved man in the St. Cajetan parish who died of melanoma a few months before the first tournament. The yearly event has raised money for youth athletics and the far too many neighborhood families who are battling cancer.

"Just about everyone in our community knows someone with cancer. It's very unfortunate but seems to be common on the South Side," Liam said. "We know money can't solve these issues, but we like to do what we can to take their mind off of it. Helping others. My dad was big with that."

The money raised from the tournament benefits the Tom Hopkins Foundation, which supports youth athletics and provides assistance to families affected by cancer. Papa Hops merchandise will be available at Kennedy Park during the tournament.

While competitive softball is a big part of the night, Hopkins says the recent addition of a face painter and kids' obstacle course has made the event more family friendly.

On the field, the "Ignition" team will look to repeat as champions following their 2018 win. They are one of 31 teams returning to the tournament from last year.

Looking for the bracket? Tournament organizers revealed it here on Facebook Wednesday night.

And here's the hype video for this year's tournament. #NeverEndTheFight