A benefit softball game in honor of a longtime Franklin Township coach will be held next month.

Hosted by the Franklin Township Softball Association, the Franklin Township Girls' Old Timers Softball Game will be held Aug. 2 at Christman Field.The event will start at noon, at which time two dugouts built in honor of the late "Butch" Rodgers will be dedicated.Rodgers, who passed away last year, coached softball for about 20 years, and donated his time to work on the field's buildings and grounds, said Don Rehrig, event co-organizer."It was a sudden death, it was a loss to a lot of people, his family, friends and players he coached throughout the years," Rehrig said.Rehrig said Rodgers' family has started a scholarship to be given out to an outstanding Lehighton High School softball player each year in the amount of $1,000.If there are two outstanding Lehighton softball players, that amount would be split evenly between them, Rehrig said.The game will get underway at 1 p.m., and is open to any girl 20 or older or coach who has previously played for the Franklin Township Softball Association.All age groups have signed up, said Rehrig, who added that each participant will donate a basket for the raffle."It will be a relaxed game," Rehrig said. "We're also looking at it as a reunion to reminisce about the days gone by."Rehrig said he came up with the idea for the game because he had coached at least 15 years in the program and had three daughters who have gone through the program."That's where this epiphany came to me that these girls should be able to come back each year and in turn, raise some funds for a needy cause," he said. "Hopefully, it will become a yearly event."Rehrig serves as the event co-organizer along with Wayne Wentz, Jeff Smith, Rochelle Rodgers (Butch's wife), and Amber Rodgers (one of Butch's daughters),Anyone who wishes to participate in the game may contact Rehrig at 610-377-5607 or Smith at 484-464-3549.