The tension was palpable, and trash talk was slung like the dirt from the bottom of the cleats as the faculty softball team raced around the bases Thursday in a controversial 12-11 win over the team comprised of Chilton County High School seniors.

Well, maybe the game wasn’t that intense, but the school displayed a determined effort by staging the event to raise money for Relay For Life, an organization devoted to cancer research.

“I’m proud of everyone for playing and for showing up to watch,” said Jaime Bee, CCHS’s first-year Relay team captain. “I’ve had two grandparents die of cancer, so it’s pretty important to me.”

So far, the school’s Relay team has raised $6,100 not including the money raised by the softball game, which featured CCHS teachers and staff against school seniors.

Bee said the group has also held a steak plate fundraiser, sold Relay T-shirts and held a faculty basketball game.

“It was entertaining,” Bee said. “It was about like this [softball game].

“It’s been hectic, organizing everything, but it’s worth it.”

CCHS students paid $3 to watch the game instead of sit in class for the last two hours of school.

Faculty players said the game was all in good fun, but seniors coach Kristin Nelson disagreed.

“They were out here before the game trash talking us, trying to intimidate us,” Nelson said and added later that the seniors won by her count. “Our players, they had good sportsmanship. We have more class than that.”