A yearly matchup that pits boys against girls for supremacy on the diamond to won’t take place this year in Walnutport.

Dream Come True’s Blue Ridge Chapter won’t hold its 24th annual boys vs. girls charity baseball/softball game at the Walnutport Playground.

The game would have been held in early September due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to Walnutport Playground Association board member Eric Heiney.

“Due to the constant changing restrictions due to COVID, the playground felt it was best not to have a large turnout for the event,” Heiney said. “The safety of spectators, just trying to respect social distancing, would be difficult at the playground.”

Heiney said Dream Come True is a nonprofit organization that fulfills dreams of local children ages 4-18 who are seriously, chronically or terminally ill.

“We made improvements, fences were moved in, scoreboard repairs were done, and bleacher repairs (were made),” he said. “At the telethon, I’ve met children who have had their wishes granted, and it pushes me to raise more each year.”

Heiney said that last year’s game raised $11,250, adding that funds raised go toward granting wishes for children from the Northern Lehigh area as well as Carbon County.

“I was hoping to try to equal that this year, but it’s going to have to wait until next year and try to beat it,” he said. “It’s raised locally, and it supports local children.”