Veterans will return to the plate at Legion Field in Bath for another year of softball, raising money to get service dogs to veterans in need of support.

The second annual Single Pitch Softball Benefit will be hosted by the American Legion Smith-Tobey Post 21 across the street at Legion Field on 200 Congress Ave. in Bath from June 28-29.

Joe Young, commander for the Smith-Tobey American Legion, said around six teams have signed up and the event is still open to more teams. The entry fee is $200 per team, with proceeds going toward the Oxford nonprofit Mission Work Dogs.

Last year, the inaugural softball event raised over $7,000, which was used for the Sisters in Arms Center, House in the Woods retreat center and Boothbay Veterans Emergency Temporary Shelter Inc.

A silent auction and raffle will showcase items ranging from a travel RV trailer rental to numerous craft and retail items and services donated by area merchants, such as quilted blankets, pictures from local artists and passes to the golf courses in Brunswick and Topsham. Auction items and services are being solicited and accepted until the benefit.

According to Lauren King, Mission Working Dogs’ client and services coordinator, this will be the first time the softball benefit has contributed to the therapy dog training organization.

The money raised will be used for the American Legion to sponsor one of the cabins where clients can stay with their service or therapy dog on the Mission Working Dogs campus. Any money left over will be used to provide service dogs to veterans at no or reduced cost. King said the average cost of a fully trained service or therapy dog after two years is around $48,000.

“Last year’s event featured teams from families and organizations, including crew from a U.S. Navy ship in Bath,” Young said. “Anyone can assemble and register a team right up to Saturday morning. Why not put together a team to represent your business or organization?”

According to Mission Working Dogs founder and president Christy Gardner, the organization trains service and facility dogs with a mission to improve the lives of community members living with a disability by providing them with properly trained service dogs to help them live more independently.

“Typically, there are no grants,” King said. “There is no insurance that covers a service dog for individuals, so having this fund especially earmarked for veterans will help us get these dogs in the hands of people that truly need them at no cost to them.”

The addition of a dog to a daily routine isn’t for everyone, but Mission Working Dogs will work through the application process for a veteran who has been in PTSD treatment for nine months. Mission Working Dogs has 72 dogs in its program, with about 42 service and therapy dog teams that have graduated for use in the state.

“The two avenues we train for now are PTSD and mobility assistance, but it’s for civilian or military individuals who qualify,” King said.