Plenty for sports fans to cheer about during Festival of Flight Oct. 5

Festival of Flight will feature exhibition games by the USA Patriots Amputee Softball Team at Wright State’s Nischwitz Stadium.

Sports fans can cheer on Wright State Division I soccer, volleyball and softball teams and watch a military veteran softball team and a vintage baseball game throughout the day during the inaugural Festival of Flight.

The free Festival of Flight will celebrate the importance of aviation in the Miami Valley on the grounds of the Wright State University Nutter Center on Saturday, Oct. 5. The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In addition to several sporting events, the festival will feature aviation-related educational experiences; flight-themed food and beverages; and entertainment, including performances by local bands, a dedicated area with fun activities for children and a haunted trail. Information about food and beverages, performances, games, sponsorships and vendor space, activities and educational experiences is available at FestivalOfFlight.org.

The USA Patriots Amputee Softball Team will play two exhibition games at Wright State’s Nischwitz Stadium. Formerly known as the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team, the USA Patriots features veterans who have lost limbs in combat or from non-combat injuries.

USA Patriots will face an all-star squad of military and civilian personnel from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and local firefighters at 10:30 a.m. Team Fastrax Professional Skydiving Team will parachute in the American flag and the game ball during an opening ceremony at 10:30 a.m. USA Patriots will also play the Dayton Legends Softball Club all-stars at 3:30 p.m.

A 12:15 p.m. ceremony between the softball games will recognize and honor female military veterans. Honorees will be led from the dugout onto the field and around the bases. At each base, the honorees will receive a token of appreciation from local veterans organization, including the Fisher Houses at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Dayton VA Medical Center; Honor Fight-Dayton; Combat Outpost Robinson; and Volunteers of America, which operates the veterans’ homeless shelter at the Dayton VA.

The Wright State women’s volleyball team will host Horizon League opponent IUPUI during the festival.

“We are inviting and hope to honor as many women veterans as possible in what will be both a fun and respectful ceremony and a highlight of the day’s activities,” said Scott Kuhnen, a retiree from Wright-Patterson.

A vintage baseball game will start at 1 p.m. at Nischwitz Stadium between Dayton’s Eastwood Iron Horses and the Cincinnati Hall of Fame Red Stockings. Vintage baseball is played with old-style baseballs, bats, uniforms and rules.

At 2 p.m., the vintage baseball players will offer a clinic for children interested in learning how the game was once played.

Three Wright State Division I teams will play during the Festival of Flight.

The Wright State women’s volleyball team will host Horizon League opponent IUPUI at 4 p.m. in the McLin Gym in the Nutter Center.

Entering head coach Allie Matters’ second year with the team, the Raiders have high expectations for 2019. Last season, Wright State finished above .500 (15-14) for the first time since 2003 and qualified for the Horizon League postseason tournament for the first time in 10 years.

The Wright State men’s soccer team will host Oakland in a Horizon League match at 7 p.m. at Alumni Field at the Rinzler Student Sports Complex.

The Raiders hope to build off head coach Jake Slemker’s first season, when they won the Horizon League regular season title, finished as the 18th-ranked team in the nation, but lost in the Horizon League finals to UIC.

The Wright State softball team will play a doubleheader against Cedarville at 4 and 6 p.m. on the Wright State Softball Field.

In addition, the Wright State club football team will play Coppin State at 2 p.m. at Mulhollan Field.

Wright State fans can cheer on the men’s soccer team when the Raiders host Horizon League rival Oakland to wrap up Festival of Flight.

Festival of Flight sports schedule:

10:30 a.m.: USA Patriots Amputee Softball Team vs. local military personnel and first responders, Nischwitz Stadium
1 p.m.: Vintage baseball game: Cincinnati Hall of Fame Red Stockings vs. Dayton’s Eastwood Iron Horses, Nischwitz Stadium
2 p.m.: Wright State club football vs. Coppin State, Mulhollan Field
2 p.m.: Vintage baseball children’s clinic
3:30 p.m.: USA Patriots vs. Dayton Legends Softball Club, Nischwitz Stadium
4 p.m.: Wright State women’s volleyball vs. IUPUI, McLin Gym
4 p.m.: Wright State softball vs. Cedarville, Softball Field
6 p.m.: Wright State softball vs. Cedarville, Softball Field
7 p.m.: Wright State men’s soccer vs. Oakland, Alumni Field