OBERLIN, Ohio – Long before Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier, Lorain County was home to sandlot showdowns that packed parks with cheering families and all-Black ballclubs with names like the Elyria Smart Set and the Lorain Black Diamond.

This weekend, a softball tournament will bring that history back to life — and spotlight the county’s deep Black heritage.

The L.E.O. Black History Alliance Lorain County Softball Tournament, now in its second year, is modeled after the day-long contests of the 1910s, ’20s and ’30s, when entire communities turned out for the games. The best-of-three series between teams from Lorain and Elyria will be paired with a community picnic, free food and drinks, and plenty of hometown pride.

The action begins with a pre-game ceremony a

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