The crack of plastic bats and cheers from the sidelines filled Williams Street Park Aug. 15 as former youth league players reunited with old teammates while a new generation of athletes created memories of its own at the annual Emmaus Youth Association Wiffle ball Tournament.

Organized by Joe and Stacy Kemmerer and a group of volunteers, the tournament ran 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and featured 39 teams. Many participants return year after year, turning the event into both a competition and a reunion. For many adults, the tournament is a chance to reconnect with friends and relive their youth league days, while younger players are building traditions of their own.

Upper Milford baseball players Everett Benham, Gavin Kuzo-Baker and Brantley Rogal have played together for five years. During the baseball season, they are coached by Bernie Selvey, Kuzo-Baker’s father, who also gets the opportunity to share the field with the boys during the annual tournament.

Kuzo-Baker helped his team, The Laughing Nuts, advance with a walk-off triple. Benham and Rogal said the tournament is fun and something they look forward to every year.

The Emmaus High School Class of 2018 was also well represented at the event. The Pine Street Parkers, led by former senior class president Joel Sanchez, included Donald Marler, Brendan Schaaf and Hunter Heigez. Heigez was joined by his girlfriend, Sydney Lee. Team members traveled from Conshohocken, Doylestown and Maryland to participate, saying they play “for fun and to support the EYA.”

Another team featuring members of the Class of 2018, the Crab Squad, included Jake Caverly, Dakota Bauer and Bobby Wink. Caverly’s wife, Alessandra, brought the couple’s young son, Marcus, to watch his father play.

Information about next year’s tournament is available on the Emmaus Youth Association website.