JRF Squad to hold its third charity softball tournament for MDA

You may have seen Reading-based JRF Squad’s merchandise before. The lifestyle and clothing apparel company sells items ranging from T-shirts and hats to phone cases and bathing suits.

JRF started in 2009 when a group of high school friends, who had just graduated from Exeter Township High School, decided to join a slow-pitch softball league.

“In 2008, when I was on my way to prom, one of my friends texted me, ‘Hey, do you want to start a slow pitch team?’” said Derek Evans, who is the co-owner and in charge of the JRF Squad’s website. “We were all friends since junior high school; some of us even elementary school.”

The team stayed together through raising money and playing sports. The members have the motto of living life to the fullest, Evans said. But they also want to give back to charity at the same time.

And that is what they are going to continue to do July 28. The JRF Squad is hosting its third slow-pitch softball tournament at Lorane Hollow Park and Lorane Elementary School from 8 a.m. to throughout the evening. It costs $200 per team, and all proceeds go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

The first tournament two years ago raised money for Four Diamonds, for childhood cancer. Last year’s was geared toward dysautonomia disorders and Standing up to POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, which is like dysautonomias, according to the website).

“We want to reach out to different charities,” Evans said.

The tournament will be 4gg and a single elimination playoff.

There will also be raffles; prizes; food; drinks; shirts; music; dunk tanks; which is new this year; and games throughout the day.

“Whatever we profit off of it, we use it as the team or for group outings,” Evans said. “We’re going to the Reading Phillies.”

Five percent of the clothing and merchandise sales go to Bright Pink, an organization that fights to empowerment and raise awareness of breast and ovarian cancers.

The team’s colors, which are the same pink and black as Bright Pink, were the favorites of Johnny Favinger, the founder of JRF Squad and whose initials the company took on.

“Black and pink symbolize our friendship, our brotherhood,” Evans said.

90 percent of the team is still made up of Exeter classmates, according to the website. Evans said that about 20 of the team members were friends through school on the original team. Now, close to 12 initial people are still on it.

And hopefully this tradition will continue, Evans said.

“Every year we definitely want to do a charity tournament,” he said. “We’ve even talked about passing it down to our kids one day.”

If interested, teams can email info@jrfsquad.com or call 610-823-8437. There are three teams signed up so far, and the cap is eight teams.

SUBMITTED PHOTO The JRF Squad during its 2017 softball season. The team will host a charity tournament on July 28.

BARRY TAGLIEBER — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Dogwood Festival Prince and Princess Alexander AndradeFerraro and Chloe Caltagirone ride along the parade route.

SUBMITTED PHOTO The JRF Squad’s girlfriends and wives cheer on the team.

SUBMITTED PHOTO The JRF Squad raises money for charities to give back to the community each year.

BARRY TAGLIEBER — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Zumba dancers show off their moves along the Dogwood Parade route in Phoenixville.

BARRY TAGLIEBER — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA The 2018 Dogwood Festival Queen and her court ride on the parade route: Madison Kerper, Queen Kayleigh Gerhring, and Hailey Famous.

BARRY TAGLIEBER — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA T This replica of a Reading Railroad engine doesn’t need tracks.

BARRY TAGLIEBER — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Dogwood Queens past and present were on featured in a special float.