HPH York Vale League cricketers will be hitting out for charity this season.

Martin House Hospice for children will benefit from every run scored by Vale League batsmen on June 14 and 15.

Clubs will pledge 10p for each run scored in the league’s Cash for Runs appeal to go to the Boston Spa-based hospice – and there will be an added incentive for batsmen.

Raven Cricket, new sponsor of the league’s Young Player of the Year award and Junior Six-A-Side competition, will donate a bat to the player with the highest individual innings that weekend.

League chairman Shane Hargrave said: “As a provider of sport in the community, it is good to put something back by supporting our chosen charity of the year, Martin House Hospice. I hope that our batsmen will raise their game in the knowledge that every run they score will make a difference to a very worthwhile cause.”

Raven will also sponsor a man-of-the-match award when the Vale League representative XI take on the Eastern Conference XI at Selby on June 8 and the Vale game against the York and District Senior League at Beverley on August 31.

The winners of the triangular tournament, launched last season, will receive the Graham Headley Trophy which is held by the Senior League.

Graham Headley, who died in March 2002, ran Aldby Park CC and was instrumental in its merger with Stamford Bridge. He was manager of the Vale League’s representative side in the 1990s.

Veteran players will also be flying the flag for the Vale League in the Grey Fox competition for over 50s.

Their group games are at Fishlake on a date to be arranged and against Norton Ancients at Pocklington on June 15. The semi-finals will be at Headingley on August 17 with the final at Scarborough’s North Marine Road ground on September 7.