The Capitol Hill Alano Club (CHAC) is holding its 13th annual Bat N Rouge softball game on Saturday, June 18, 2011 on the Bobby Morris ball fields at Cal Anderson Park on Capitol Hill. All are welcome to attend the event, the last ball game at the park for the 2011 season.

The Bobby Morris ball fields are to be closed by Seattle Parks & Recreation for major work to replace the lights to begin on June 20th.

As one of Seattle Pride's kick-off events, Bat N Rouge this year features Seattle's own Gaysha Starr, who will host the event as mistress of ceremonies. Traditionally, Bat N Rouge draws thousands of spectators, fans and neighbors to watch this unique kind of softball and take part in a community event, designed for all ages. Besides softball, there will be music, entertainment, food, prizes and more.

As in years prior, Bat N Rouge XIII pits the fashion sense of Seattle's drag queens against the the athletic prowess of the dykes to see who can score the most runs and win the coveted trophy. Traditional softball innings are echoed by “fun” innings, where spectators can purchase stunts or bribes to impact the game in favor of their team.

Bat N Rouge is an annual fundraiser to benefit the Capitol Hill Alano Club, a 501(C) 3 non-profit organization, which supports 12-Step recovery groups, the LGBTQ community in particular, by providing a safe, permanent and welcoming meeting space.

However, a break-in and fire on March 22, 2011 seriously damaged the Club's building at 19th and East Madison, making this year's Bat N Rouge fundraiser especially critical in getting that meeting space back in operation. Most of the Club's 60 12-Step recovery groups have found temporary space elsewhere in the city. The fire-damaged building is currently undergoing reconstruction and the Club hopes to be back in operation there in late June or early July.

Since its founding in 1982, the Capitol Hill Alano Club has provided an important service to the community by offering a safe space for LBGTQ and others, often in crisis, as they deal with and recover from many kinds of addiction.

Capitol Hill Alano Club Board of Directors