Community bonding with some friendly competition – First Infantry Division soldiers will hit the softball fields today for a game of Fort Riley vs. Junction City.

Brigadier General Patrick Frank, Fort Riley and 1st Infantry Division Acting Senior Commander, will play on the Fort Riley team with other 1ID soldiers.

Phyllis Fitzgerald, Junction City Mayor, will be the pitcher for the Junction City team.

“I pitched before when I was in the military – I was on a team, slow pitch – so I will be the pitcher today.”

Fitzgerald noted that the idea to play the game was introduced by Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Dennis Beson.

“He’d been in conversation with General Frank about a friendly softball game; [Dennis] really was the one who was instrumental in getting the game set up,” said Fitzgerald.

Beson will play for Junction City alongside Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Director Michele Stimatze, County Commissioner Charles Stimatze, and Junction City High School Athletic Director Matt Westerhaus, to name a few.

The game will be at 4:30 pm today on Fort Riley.