Tyrese Haliburton and Daniel Jones captained teams at the Pacers Foundation Charity Softball Classic, joined by Colts, Pacers and Simone Biles.
Victory Field held the Pacers Foundation Charity Softball Classic on Monday night, with Tyrese Haliburton and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones captaining the two rosters. Gates opened at 6 p.m. ET, first pitch was set for 7, and general admission tickets were $10. They went on sale July 24.
Haliburton batted leadoff for his side.
"I ain't gonna lie, I probably ain't swung a baseball bat in like at least five years, so they got me batting first," Haliburton said. "So that's setting the tone. Either my team's going to be nice or whack. I don't know. We're going to see."
Proceeds benefit Drive & Dish. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle started the food-insecurity program, now in its second year. It has delivered more than 1.2 million pounds of food to families across Indiana. Former Colts punter Pat McAfee emceed. Boomer, the Indiana Pacemates, the Hype Crew, the Fever Inferno, and Fever mascot Freddy Fever appeared during the game.
The Colts sent close to 20 players, among them running back Jonathan Taylor, cornerback Sauce Gardner, guard Quenton Nelson, tight ends Tyler Warren and Mo Alie-Cox, wide receivers Alec Pierce and Josh Downs, and safety Cam Bynum. Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell, Obi Toppin, and Braden Smith represented the Indiana Pacers. Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles was on the roster. Biles is married to first-year Colts cornerback Jonathan Owens. Members of the Indy Ignite played as well.
Indiana Fever players were not available. The WNBA is in the middle of its regular season.
Corey Wilson, senior vice president of community engagement for Pacers Sports & Entertainment, announced the event on July 21.
"I'd be lying if I said I did a lot of leg work," Haliburton explained. "We're very thankful that the Pacers and the Colts have a great relationship and they were able to just move things over between the organizations and make it work, and that's special."
The Pacers Foundation funds work on education, health, and safety across the state.
Haliburton has not played since June 22, 2025, when the tendon tore in the first quarter of Game 7 against Oklahoma City. Surgery came a day later. Jones tore his right Achilles on Dec. 7, 2025, at Jacksonville. He is scheduled to start the Colts' opener against Baltimore on Sept. 13. Both men used the same surgeon.
Haliburton missed the whole season. Indiana lost 63 games. The franchise had never lost more. Over 73 appearances in 2024-25, he put up 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 9.2 assists. He was an All-NBA Third Team pick that season. He is entering the fourth season of the five-year, $244 million extension he signed in July 2023.
Monday's game was the first Charity Softball Classic the Pacers Foundation has held. Gainbridge presented it. Lineups went out Sunday.
Wilson wanted a night that gave fans something they could not get otherwise and put money behind the foundation's work on youth food insecurity.
"The Pacers Foundation Charity Softball Classic is about bringing people together for a fun, memorable night while shining a light on an issue that affects too many young people across Indiana," Wilson said.
Youth food insecurity reaches about 260,000 Hoosiers under the age of 14. Drive & Dish runs on Gleaners2Go and operates at 21 sites around the state.
