Play Ball! ECLP Friends Charity Softball Game Reunites CYA and SYA Alumni for Summer Slugfest at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park
Free Event on July 25 to Feature Alumni Softball Game, Food Trucks and Fun for a Good Cause
Summer Slugfest
Saturday, July 25, 2026
12 – 3 pm
Ellanor C. Lawrence Park
5000 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly, VA 20151
Free admission and open to the public
CHANTILLY, VA (May 25, 2026) — Ellanor C. Lawrence Park Friends is proud to
present the inaugural Summer Slugfest, a charity softball game uniting alumni from two
legendary local youth sports organizations for an afternoon of friendly competition,
community spirit, and charitable impact.
The six-inning game will take place on Saturday, July 25, 2026, from 12 to 3 pm at the
softball fields at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park (5000 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly, VA 20151).
The event features alumni players (ages 21 and over) from the Chantilly Youth
Association (CYA) and the Southwestern Youth Association (SYA) competing for the
2026 Slugfest Cup.
The free public event will feature:
● An alumni softball game between former CYA and SYA players
● Food trucks featuring gourmet hot dogs and cool summer treats
● Giveaways, merchandise, and a 50/50 raffle
● Family fun and community engagement
● Live on-field broadcast from CYA’s The Sideline podcast
“Summer Slugfest is exactly what youth sports should be about—community,
connection, and giving back,” says SYA CEO Gary Flather. “We’re excited to see former
players come together again, represent SYA, and support opportunities for kids and
families throughout our area and through ECLP.”
Organizers say the event is about giving back to the next generation and shining a light
on all that Ellanor C. Lawrence Park offers—over 650 acres of sports fields, trails,
historic Cabell’s Mill and Walney Visitor Center, plus the Woodlands Stewardship
Education Center and more.
Proceeds from donations, raffles, and merchandise sales at the Summer Slugfest will
support scholarships, summer camps, school field trips, and educational programming
through local nonprofit Ellanor C. Lawrence Park (ECLP) Friends, helping underserved
children access outdoor recreation and learning opportunities.
“With the Summer Slugfest, we hope to get more young adults out enjoying ECLP,” said
Friends volunteer and Slugfest organizer Zach Velis. “Funds raised will provide more
scholarships for park programs. We grew up attending ECLP camps and playing youth
sports—we want every child to enjoy the same opportunities.”
Summer Slugfest is a free, family-friendly event open to the public, with players
registering through either CYA or SYA. Community members are encouraged to dig out
their purple or red gear and come cheer on their favorite team as local alumni take the
field for a great cause.
“The Slugfest is about more than winning a trophy,” added CYA Executive Director Mark
Abbott. “It’s about reconnecting alumni, celebrating our shared history in youth sports,
and investing back into a park that serves as an educational and recreational resource
for the entire community.”
Ellanor C. Lawrence Park Friends is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, 100% volunteer organization
dedicated to supporting park initiatives and activities that help protect and preserve our
park—and our planet. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit www.eclpfriends.org
and subscribe to learn more, donate and get involved.
CONTACT:
Jennifer Grinnell, ECLP Friends President
