Rosters set for first Ridley-Springfield alumni charity game

In a county where Thanksgiving lends itself to tradition on the football field, a new entry to the holiday schedule will make a little bit different use of the field, starting this fall.

Rosters were announced Thursday for the first annual alumni rivalry game between two of the county’s most illustrious boys lacrosse programs, Springfield and Ridley, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 29 at Ridley High School.

Each program has enlisted a group of nearly 50 former players to take part in the game, which will benefit HEADstrong Foundation’s work with local families battling cancer.

The two programs are among the most decorated in Pennsylvania, combining for 11 state titles, including two for Springfield in the PIAA era. The list of participants includes several current and former professionals and members of Team

USA as well as total of 23 players named All-Delco and three Daily Times’ Boys Lacrosse Players of the Year – Springfield’s James Spence and Austin Kaut; Ridley’s Brett Moyer.

Admission to the game at 1 p.m. at Phil Marion Field is $5 and can be purchased online in advance. The teams will wear the numbers of members of their extended lacrosse families who’ve succumbed to cancer: The Ridley No. 27 of Nick Collelouri, in whose memory HEADstrong was created, and the No. 14 of Springfield for Nick Baratelle. Both former players lost their battles with cancer in their early 20s.

Through the game’s website, alumnilaxgame.com, people can donate in support of either Springfield or Ridley, with both schools’ fanbases competing to see who can contribute the most to charity. Further details are available at headstrong.org.