"When I heard that something like that happened, I wanted to do something," Rob Foster said. "Just like everyone, I wanted to give."
Seventeen to 20 teams will compete in two divisions Saturday, June 3, and Sunday, June 4, at the Ilion Community Park baseball fields.
Corr was a member of Utica's municipal softball league. His former teammate, Dion Roman of Sherrill, said he thinks Corr would appreciate the tournament.
Roman's team won't be in the Ilion tournament because it will be at the dedication of the New Hartford High School baseball field. The field will be renamed Joseph D. Corr Memorial Field at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
Roman said he wishes he could do both.
"It's a very good tournament," Roman said. "I'm kind of disappointed we're not going."
Tom Powers, owner of Shorty's Sports Bar and Grill in Utica, will play in the tournament as part of Team Shorty's. He said he hopes the tournament grows and raises money for Corr's family for many years to come.
"It's great competition, a great cause, and they have beautiful fields in Ilion," Powers said. "I know all the guys on my team are excited about it."
Jerry Schaffer of Middleville, a member of the Pony's Pub team, said he looks forward to playing teams from outside of this area. Among the teams in the tournament are a team from Albany and a team from Liverpool.
The umpires will donate some of their time, Central Valley Softball Umpires Association President Gerald Carroll of Barneveld said. Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare will pay for the rest of their work.
"We want to do our part," Carroll said. "If we can't stick up for our own, we can't stick up for anybody."
