West Hartford’s Hall High School will host crosstown rival Conard on Friday, April 26, 2024, at 3:45 p.m.

By Ronni Newton

Friends of Hall Softball has organized the annual “Strikeout Cancer” game, which will be held at Hall on Friday, April 26, beginning at 3:45 p.m.

The game will honor former Hall softball player Jackie Hamad, who passed away in April 2023 due to an aggressive form of brain cancer. According to Friends of Hall Softball, all players will wear special game day shirts with Jackie’s number on the sleeves.

The game will also serve as a fundraiser, with money raised from the concession stand donated to a charity in Hamad’s honor.

Hamad was a member of the Hall High School Class of 2023, and her parents received her diploma from Principal Dan Zittoun at graduation in June.

Hall Principal Dan Zittoun (left) gives Jackie Hamad’s diploma to her parents, Pamela and Michael. Hall High School graduation. June 13, 2023. Photo credit: Craig Rosenberg (we-ha.com file photo)

Zittoun’s family has also been impacted by cancer, which his daughter, Abby, has been battling for many years.

Jackie Hamad heads for second on her fourth inning double. Hall vs. New Canaan. Class LL first round softball tournament. May 31, 2022. Photo credit: Paul Palmer (we-ha.com file photo)

Abby Zittoun will also be honored at the “Strikeout Cancer” game, and it will also be played in memory of Kristina Carreira, a beloved West Hartford Youth Softball coach, who died of cancer last fall at age 33. Carreira had helped organize a “Day of Softball” last summer as a tribute Hamad.

Day of Softball in Honor of Jackie Hamad, held at Sterling Field in West Hartford on July 30, 2023. Photo credit: Craig Rosenberg (we-ha.com file photo)

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