MARYSVILLE — Tonight at the Strawberry Tournament’s home run derby and fastest baserunner contest, there will be an extra sense of urgency.

The event, which begins around 6 p.m. at Cedar Field, will be a fundraiser for a Marysville Little League player who was diagnosed with leukemia this May.

The league is looking for sponsors for home runs hit in the derby, so in addition to each player’s competitive drive, home runs driven in could mean more funds raised for the player’s medical expenses.

“We are a baseball family and community and one of our own has fallen very ill and I think it would show great class as a league to show up and help out in any way we can,” wrote league president Judd Luton in an e-mail.

Fifty percent of all concession sales June 9 will also benefit the player’s family.

The home run derby is open to all players from the Strawberry Tournament and the Marysville Little League major league.

To sponsor a home run, bring a check to Cedar Field for tonight’s derby. For more information, contact tournament director Cully Preston at cullyp@msn.com.