Tuesday’s Strikeout for Cancer game was postponed until April 16 due to weather, but that won’t stop Missouri Southern’s softball team from spreading the word.

Originally called Strikeout Cancer, the National Fast-pitch Coaches Association (NFCA) endorses the program for obvious reasons.

“As a group, we (the NFCA) decided that because we have female athletes, we’re trying to make more awareness about breast cancer,” said Bill Gray, head softball coach.

The event calls for the softball team to wear pink uniform tops during the game to symbolize breast cancer awareness.

The softball team took donations at Joplin High School and Missouri Southern tournaments this year.

Southern will now play Northeastern State University from Tahlequah, Okla., for the Strikeout for Cancer game.

“We’re going to take donations again and ‘pass the hat’ type thing,” Gray said. “Our goal in the first year is to raise $250. Anything’s better than nothing, but that will be a good place to start.

“We were trying to do it against Pittsburg State, but it hasn’t worked out because of the weather.”

Gray hopes for high attendance at the upcoming game for several reasons.

“We want to have people out there to watch softball games and enjoy softball,” he said, “but we want people also to help us in our efforts to strike out cancer.”

The softball team is currently 9-22 (1-1 MIAA). The Lions will play the University of Central Missouri Jennies tomorrow at 2 p.m.

All funds raised by the softball team will go to benefit the Joplin area. To make a donation, people may contact Coach Bill Gray at 625-9873.