The Hempfield High School baseball program will celebrate the start of the 2026 season with its annual First Pitch event.

The function will be held Friday, March 13, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the cafeteria at Hempfield High School, 200 Stanley Ave., Landisville. It will feature food, games, and a silent auction.

There is an admission charge for adults, which will include the cost of drinks and food such as hot dogs, pizza, and chips. Youths age 15 and under will be admitted free and will be able to enjoy free food and beverages.

"It's a fundraiser for the Booster Club, but it's also meant to be an introduction of this year's team," said Derrick Hulock, who is the Booster Club president.

The silent auction will include Philadelphia Eagles tickets, Pittsburgh Pirates tickets, and signed Pittsburgh Steelers memorabilia.

For a fee, visitors can enter to win tuition for local baseball academies; Philadelphia Flyers memorabilia; and gift cards from the American Car Museum, Longwood Gardens, Eastern State Penitentiary, Shady Maple, Turkey Hill Experience, Dutch Wonderland, and Fulton Theatre.

There will also be Wiffle ball games, races, and a chance for younger baseball players to learn how fast they can throw. "We're trying to do things to get our youth baseball players involved," Hulock said. "It's a really fun event. (All) the kids really look forward to it. The younger kids look up to the older kids and want to attain the same thing."

The Mountville Youth Athletic Association and Hempfield Youth Association will have the opportunity to win baseballs and a fungo bat, and a youth player will earn a chance to throw out the first pitch at a Hempfield High School varsity baseball game.

"My family's all grown up in Hempfield baseball, and I just remember being a young kid, probably in 10U (baseball), coming to First Pitch, seeing all the seniors and all the older baseball players I looked up to," senior Derek Katch said. "It's cool. You get to see them before their season starts. You get to see their faces, get to know them a little bit, and then you feel like you know them when they're out there on the field."

All proceeds will benefit the Hempfield High School baseball program. Hulock noted that the Booster Club purchases spikes, turf shoes, warmups, baseballs, and other items.

"We are a support system to help the coaches," said Hulock. "We pour everything back into the program."

Hulock has two sons on the squad, Camden, who is a senior, and Jaxsen, a sophomore.

"I like seeing all the young kids," said Camden, who plans to play baseball at West Chester University. "They all look up to us, so it's pretty crazy. When I was a kid back in Mountville, I was probably one of the smaller kids. It comes down to putting in the work."

He is thankful for the Booster Club's support. "It means a lot," said Camden. They put in a ton of time and a ton of money, too. It helps us a lot with stuff we get. We're really appreciative of it."