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Pelham defeated Helena 8-2 in the 5th annual faculty softball game on Monday, April 29. (Reporter Photos/Keith McCoy)

By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

PELHAM – Staff members from both Helena and Pelham High School don’t work on the same campus day-to-day, but on Monday, April 29, teachers came together on the softball field for the fifth annual faculty softball game to continue the rivalry that has now become a fun tradition.

For the second year in a row, the Pelham faculty went home happy as they defeated Helena 8-2, thanks to three big home runs to keep bragging rights and the coveted trophy at PHS.

The game started as a way to bring faculty members back together after the schools split and Helena High School opened in 2014. Five years later, the game still has a fun atmosphere and continues to build camaraderie on both sides.

Pelham High School Assistant Principal Sabrina Tutchtone helps coordinate the event each year and said above all, it’s about having fun and bringing both sides together.

“First of all, it is a great culture builder for us and as a Pelham team, we like that as far as our school goes,” Tutchtone said. “Our kids see us have fun because it’s such a rivalry between the two of us, so when they see the adults having fun and ragging on each other and getting after each other in a good sportsmanship way, that’s what we really enjoy.”

As far as the game went, Pelham exploded for four runs in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a three-run home run and a solo home run to take a 4-1 lead.

They never looked back, adding another solo home run in the second inning and three more runs in the later innings for the 8-2 win.

The faculty softball game also serves to help the two high school softball programs. The money raised from the game is donated back-and-forth each year to the school which hosts the game. This year the money went to Pelham.

As far as fan support, both sides of the stands were filled with either Husky blue or Panther green, as students from both sides came out to cheer on their favorite faculty members.

“My favorite thing is the day of the game at school when all the teachers wear their jerseys,” Tutchtone said. “The kids are so hyped about it, and we have some great kids that come out and support us. They can pick on us tomorrow at school but they also get to see their teachers be human beings and show how much we love each other and we’re a team just like we want them to be.”

Following the game, both teams met on an adjacent field to enjoy food catered by Beef ‘O’ Brady’s and ice cream sandwiches.

The win for Pelham marked the fourth time in five years PHS defeated Helena.

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