It’s baseball season and of course, it’s always running season. So let’s combine the two.

This Saturday’s 15th Annual Rube’s Run 5k Road Race and Walk honors the memory of Hall of Fame pitcher George “Rube” Waddell. Waddell, known as much for his eccentricities off the field as for his pitching prowess, played for both the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Athletics, among others.

Waddell wrestled alligators in his off season and was known to arrive to the ballpark late because he was fishing or to walk off the playing field mid-game to feed his fascination with firetrucks. He also held the National League’s strikeout record in three consecutive years and struck out 294 hitters in 1904, a record that stood for 61 years.

Rube’s Run 5k’s gently rolling course runs past Waddell’s boyhood home in Prospect. The 5k begins at 8:30 a.m. at Moraine Elementary School and a free one-mile kids run begins at 9:15. First 20 kids receive a commemorative T-shirt.

Rube’s Run offers competitive awards for the first three male and female finishers and first masters with age groups from 17 and under through 70-plus in ten-year increments. While results are being tabulated, participants will enjoy an “Old Fashioned Baseball Breakfast” of hot dogs and lemonade.

For more information about the 15th Annual Rube’s Run, call Jim Gallagher, 724-865-9582 or Mary Harmon, 724-865-2181.

On July 30 at 9 a.m., baseball combines with running in the John Cossy Costantino Memorial 5k in Freeport. The race has been held for 12 years, but this is the third year that it has been named in honor of the late runner and Freeport resident John Costantino, who lived across the street from the ballfield.

This memorial 5k marks the closing day of the Freeport International Baseball Invitational, a celebration of the sport of baseball that attracts local, regional and international youth baseball teams. This year, 22 teams, including teams from France and Japan, will take part.

This year the 5k returns to its original course which winds its way through the gently rolling streets of Freeport and ends in James Swartz Stadium. It had been diverted in past years due to construction of the new Freeport Bridge.

International Baseball Director and runner Chuck Sarver says that the original course is “much more interesting.”

The Freeport International Baseball Invitational is not a tournament in the usual sense. It doesn’t keep track of wins and losses and doesn’t award a winner’s trophy. Teams play only “for the love of the game.”

And in keeping with that spirit of participation, the Memorial 5k does not award age group awards. Instead, each participant has an opportunity to win a random drawing prize.

There’s plenty of activity for the whole family in addition to the 5k run. Kids can run a one-mile fun run following the 5k. All race participants are welcome to stay for an international baseball game which begins at 11 a.m. And later, the Baseball Invitational finishes with a World vs USA game at 8 p.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m.

Race day registration for the John Cossy Constantino 5k opens at 7:30 a.m. on July 30. You may also download an application at www.fortheloveofthegame.org. For more information about the race or baseball invitational, visit the website or call Chuck Sarver at 724-448-2580.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 8:30 a.m.: Stampede in the Park, Monroeville. Also 1 Mile Fun Run starting at Boyce Park Ski Lodge.412-795-6902 or www.stampedeinthepark.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Oil City Firefighters 5k, Oil City. Flat out-and-back. 814-678-3061 or sammcsparren@yahoo.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Shannock Valley Community Festival 5k, Rural Valley. Also mountain bike race. 724-664-8893

Sunday, 8 a.m.: Pittsburgh Triathlon Open Water Swim Clinic, Moraine State Park. Focus on conquering open water swim fears. Pittsburghtriathlon.org

July 27, 7 p.m.: Dam Race 5k, Sharpsville. Out and back on Shenango Dam Causeway. 724-866-1374 or www.runhigh.com

July 28, 6 p.m.: Pitsburgh Triathlon Training Clinic, Cranberry Township. Held at Lemieux Sports Complex with focus on core strength and nutrition. Pittsburghtriathlon.org

July 29, 9 p.m.: Friday Night Lights 5k Fun Run and Walk, Knox. Run through town finishes on high school football field. 814-221-7677 or fridaynl5k@gmail.com

July 30, 9 a.m.: Muddy and Messy 5k Mud Run, Conneaut Lake. 824-382-2534 or www.muddyandmessy.com

July 31, 8 a.m.: Run with the Deer Flies Trail Run, Penn Run. Choice of rugged 15k or 25k. 724-422-8388 or www.indianaroadrunners.com

Aug. 6, 8 a.m.: Cranberry CUP 5k Run & Walk, Cranberry Township. Run at Graham Park. 724-504-5110 or inko@zoominternet.net

Aug. 6, 8 a.m.: Canoe Creek Triathlon, Duathlon, 5k Run or 2 Mile Walk, Hollidaysburg. tkunstbeck@hollidaysburgareaymca.org

Aug. 6, 9 a.m.: Cancer Society 5k Run and 1 Mile Run/Walk, Natrona Heights. 724-448-7590 or cj.thimons@yahoo.com

Aug. 6, 9 a.m.: St. Barnabas Charities Free Care 5k, Gibsonia. Register online at FreeCare5k.com. Contact 724-625-3770 or 5k@stbarnabashealthsystem.com

Aug. 6, 9 a.m.: Habitat for Humanity Kids Triathlon, North Park. Various distances for kids ages 7 through 15. 412-523-6670 or jwolfebaxt@aol.com

Aug. 7, 7:30 a.m.: Janney and the Y North Park Triathlon, North Park. 700 meter swim, 12 mile bike, 5k run. 412-266-4990 or www.baierlfamily-y.org

Aug. 7, 8 a.m.: XTERRA Appalachia Triathlon, Indiana. Staged at Yellow Creek State Park. 814-397-4316 or www.americanadventuresports.com

Aug. 13, 8 a.m.: Roebling’s Run 5k Run/Walk, Saxonburg. Out and back starting at Knoch High School. 412-603-1999 or ap2426@zoominternet.net

Aug. 13 and 14: Pittsburgh Triathlon and Adventure Race, Pittsburgh. Staged at Point State Park. Pittsburghtriathlon.org

Aug. 13, 9 a.m.: Rimersburg Cookie Daze 5k, Rimersburg. 814-473-6427

Aug. 13, 6 p.m.: Run for the Trail 7k Run and 2 Mile Fun Run/walk, Dilltown. 724-479-0769 or tmprrcih@yahoo.com

Aug. 14, 9 a.m.: P & LE Express 4 Mile/ 10 Mile, Boston. Run on Yough River Trail. teambrunazzi@gmail.com

Aug. 17, 7 p.m.: Courtney’s Ice Cream Race 5k, Grove City. 724-866-1374 or register.runhigh.com

Race results

Butler Road Race 2k, June 25: Andrew Mascio, 1st Overall M, 6:35; Eric Thompson, 2nd Overall M, 6:44; Andrew Maxwell, 3rd Overall M, 6:46; Krista Snyder, 1st Overall W, 8:01; Tabitha Donaldson, 2nd Overall W, 8:57; Heather Porter, 3rd Overall W, 9:18; Gar Bercury, 1st 40-49 M, 6:51; Ethan Depew, 1st 12-15 M, 7:23; Samuel Gross, 1st 16-19 M, 7:29; Tim Patterson, 2nd 12-15 M, 7:39; Jeff Bennett, 2nd 16-19 M, 7:41; Daniel Deal, 3rd 12-15 M, 7:51; Evan Maxwell, 3rd 16-19 M, 8:12; Drew Griffith, 1st 11 & Under M, 8:17; Tommy Bayne, 1st 30-39 M, 8:30; Michael Fabrizzi, 2nd 40-49 M, 8:58; Aaron Depew, 3rd 40-49 M, 8:59; Benjamin Swigart, 1st 20-29 M, 9:06; Samantha`Hall, 1st 16-19 W, 9:27; Sam Cornell, 1st 11 & Under W, 9:42; Anthony Rogers, 2nd 20-29 M, 10:02; Joseph Mascari, 1st 60-69 M, 10:27; Leah Zagurskie, 2nd 11 & Under W, 10:46; Curtis Gross, 2nd 50-59 M, 10:55; Jaxon Llewellyn, 2nd 11 & Under M, 11:03; Kerstyn Pomfret, 1st 12-15 W, 11:13; Lacy Zagurskie, 2nd 12-15 W, 11:16; Maureen Gross, 1st 40-49 W, 11:18; Robert Sands, 1st 70+ M, 11:20; Chiara Sloboda, 3rd 11 & Under W, 11:23; Hannah Hixon, 2nd 20-29 W, 11:29; Julian Larimer, 3rd 11 & Under M, 11:39; Belinda Sloboda, 2nd 40-49 W, 11:46; Mark Pakutz, 3rd 20-29 M, 12:06; Cierra Lawrence, 2nd 16-19 W, 12:06; Art Black, 2nd 60-69 M, 12:22; Lisa Moss, 1st 50-59 W, 12:29; Rachelle Llewellyn, 3rd 40-49 W, 12:39; Frank Macefe, 3rd 60-69 M, 12:40; Shawn Codispot, 2nd 30-39 M, 12:47; Debra Kuminkoski, 2nd 50-59 W, 12:52; Kristine Donaldson, 1st 30-39 W, 12:54; Sis Fleming, 3rd 50-59 W, 13:01; Leah Jeffers, 3rd 20-29 W, 13:04; Ann Cheman, 1st 60-69 W, 13:57; Allison Baron, 2nd 30-39 W, 14:26; Rachel Spinetti, 3rd 30-39 W, 14:47; Anna Fabrizzi, 3rd 12-15 W, 14:55; Valerie Sands, 1st 70+ W, 15:25; Ada Rumburg, 2nd 60-69 W, 16:10; Donald Cescon, 2nd 70+ M, 16:19; Gloria Thoma Miller, 3rd 60-69 W, 16:26; Tom Murray, 3rd 70+ M, 16:33; Veasna Sin, 3rd 30-39 W, 16:49; Lucille Ray, 2nd 70+ W, 21:59; Nancy Pistorius, 3rd 70+ W, 22:00; Trent Donaldson, 8:18; Sean LeMay, 8:57; William Crytzer, 8:40; Brian Llewellyn, 9:10; Malachi Stephenson, 9:15; Luke Zagurskie, 9:21; Kyle Norling, 9:27; Micah Fabrizzi, 9:41; David Griffith, 10:28; Travis Domhoff, 10:38; Aden Llewellyn, 10:58; James Hixon, 11:29; John Grenci, 11:49; Gracie Hartle, 11:56; Danielle Patterson, 12:19; Tom Patterson, 12:20; David Blackwell, 12:40; Charles Diehl, 12:41; Christopher Walliser, 12:53; Evan Ellis, 13:01; Brandon Jeffers, 13:04; Bret Dorcy, 13:12; Robert Cunningham, 13:32; John Swigart, 13:58; David Drake SR., 14:06; Jonna Massanova, 14:27; Traci Morris-Soule, 14:29; Amy Monfre, 14:38; Jackelyn Hamilton, 15:04; Samantha Milbert, 15:12; Sharon Fabrizzi, 15:14; Lisa Miller, 15:23; Richard Kradel, 15:35; Gabie Bigenho, 15:47; Autumn Christie, 15:48; Nicholas Wherthey, 15:49; Nicole Blackwell, 15:59; Thomas Stephenson, 16:00; Lois Swigart, 16:02; Sherri Zagurskie, 16:21; Christine Grossman, 16:24; Camden Schaefer, 16:42; Matthew Schaefer, 16:43; Wendy Zellefrow, 17:02; Elvira Grenci, 17:15; Reegan Donaldson, 17:34; Peter Donaldson, 17:35; Craig Moss, 17:41; Debbe Smith, 17:56; Tom Turner, 18:01; Diane Lumley, 18:11; Ed Kellerman, 18:37; Judy Hansotte, 18:54; Susan Sasse, 18:58; Diane Rundle, 19:02; Joyce Davanzati, 19:15; Loretta Crawford, 19:19; Lucy Amerson, 19:23; Dianne Black, 19:23; Cheryl Kabel, 19:29; Michelle Benko, 19:37; Tammie Lingenfelter, 19:41; Connie Downs, 19:55; Dena Hays, 19:56; Theresa Baron, 19:59; Melissa Forster, 20:00; Brook Ellis, 20:02; Daniel Defoggi, 20:07; Mark Rogerson, 20:17; Cassandra Reges, 20:22; Shawn Reges, 20:22; Jeremy Lindsey, 20:27; Adalya Lindsay, 20:28; Carly Devore, 20:33; Brooke Christie, 20:48; Kimberly Hastetler, 20:52; Kathy Rogerson, 21:01; Cassie Pauley, 21:03; Shirley Macefe, 21:08; Melissa McComas, 21:08; Lisa Smith, 21:37; Leeza Strobel, 21:37; Cindy McKain, 22:00; Steve Karls, 22:07; Jim Nocera, 22:08; Joan Szakelyhidi, 22:09; Deb O’Malley, 22:09; Tracey Fisher, 22:20; David Fisher, 22:20; Diane Pelusi, 22:33; Damon Graham, 22:43; Donna Hollefreund, 23:34; Signora Kirmeyer, 23:35; Toni Tassey, 23:37; Jacki Sloan, 23:47; Dyane Bratkovich, 23:51; Joe Bratkovich, 23:52; Nic Gaillot, 23:53; Lisa Sin, 23:54; Maggie Bowser, 23:55; Patti Schultheis, 24:06; Lauren Early, 24:06; Dayna Kabay, 27:49; Charles Spingola, 27:51; Denise Anderson, 1:10:34

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone 724-352-4395. E-mail bigp16@connecttime.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle.