The Farmers Bank of Mount Pulaski hosted a softball game at Veterans Park in Mount Pulaski on Saturday, creating friendly competition between bank staff members and a team of community players -- mostly city employees. Tricia Aylesworth, vice president at Farmers Bank, said the idea for a ballgame came from this year's theme from the Community Bankers Association of Illinois.

"The association develops a theme each year, and banks are encouraged to use it to create events and activities," Aylesworth explained. "This year's theme was 'Catch the community banking spirit,' so we tied 'catch' to playing ball, eating hot dogs and spending the afternoon at the ballpark."

Hot dogs were on the grill, drinks were on ice, and the popcorn machine was popping all afternoon. All food and snacks were free, courtesy of Farmers Bank.

Aylesworth said various events were being discussed for later in the year, and another ballgame was a possibility. But judging from the complaints of aches and strains, it will probably be a while -- to allow for recuperation.

Team members were:

Farmers Bank -- Leslie Urish, Kristie Anderson, Rick Volle, Ronnie Volle, Rachel Volle, Lorah Volle, Jodi Deibert, Kelly Cowan, Elise Anderson.

Community -- Jeff Anderson, Deanna Young, Ryan Deibert, Joe Pharis, Mike Patridge, Kathy Letterle.

Pictures and reporting by Marla Blair

Kayla Aylesworth, 4, was blowing bubbles and enjoying the spring weather at Veterans Park on Saturday. The ballgame was secondary. Her parents are Tricia and John Aylesworth.

John Aylesworth manned the grill and kept the crowd and the ballplayers full of hot dogs during the community ballgame.

Jeff Anderson opened the game as the community team's pitcher on Saturday. Not too many wild balls flew off the mound as pitchers focused on the plate and met the challenge.

Kathy Letterle and Ryan Deibert were squinting, not frowning, as the afternoon sun beat down on the ballplayers. Letterle is employed at DCPM Insurance in Mount Pulaski, and Deibert is Mount Pulaski High School's boys basketball coach.

While dad (Joe Pharis) played ball, Owen Pharis, 2, cheered from the bleachers and enjoyed hot dogs with mom (Amanda) and little brother Zane.

Kristie Anderson displayed various poses while pitching, but the ballet-style follow-through was probably the most graceful and dramatic.

Mount Pulaski High School freshman Ronnie Volle hit what appeared to be a grand slam in the first half of the game, but wet grass from the morning's rain shower pulled a victory out from under him between second and third base.

Visitors and players at the community softball game on Saturday were asked to put their name in the raffle for Cubs-Cardinals tickets. The drawing was during a break between the third and fourth innings. Kathy Letterle (left) was the lucky winner of two tickets for the June 4 game at Busch Stadium. Tricia Aylesworth, Farmers Bank vice president, made the presentation.

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