I need a walk-up song for Saturday — JJ Watt (@JJWatt) May 2, 2019 Old Town Road & Baby Shark are the (obvious) clear leaders in the clubhouse... but they’re both already taken by other guys. — JJ Watt (@JJWatt) May 2, 2019 RELATED JJ WATT STORIES: EMBED >More News Videos JJ Watt talks about his charity softball game and his graduation speech. EMBED >More News Videos "Your (quite tall) custom-made gown is ready to go!" the University of Wisconsin tweeted the Texans defensive end. EMBED >More News Videos The Houston Texans defensive stars hopped behind the bar to support the WithMerci Foundation. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Houston Texans star J.J. Watt had a great turnout for his annual charity softball game Saturday at Minute Maid park.He and his best-buds were able to bond, while raising about $1,000,000 that will all go towards the JJ Watt Foundation The game was introduced in 2013 and was played yearly through 2017. Watt decided not to host the Charity Classic in 2018. Watt tweeted earlier that year that he needed to focus on his body and that coming season. He had just come off a season-ending knee injury.This is the sixth running of the charity classic, pitting Houston Texans teammates against each other in an offense versus defense exhibition. Team Defense holds the all-time edge over its Team Offense opponents, 3-2. In addition, the event will also hold a pre-game home run derby at 6 p.m.The game, like in 2016 and 2017, was held at Minute Maid Park and will benefit the J.J. Watt Foundation.Just a couple of days before the game, Watt took to Twitter for walk-up music suggestions during the big game.<doc-sep>Bob Levey/Getty Images The only thing better than a softball game between athletes who don't normally play the sport is one that raises money for charity. Houston Texans star J.J. Watt brought back his Charity Softball Classic in 2019 after a one-year hiatus. The event was held Saturday at Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros, and turned into a great success with more than $1 million raised for the Justin J. Watt Foundation: Since Watt hosts the event, it only makes sense he would have several highlight-reel moments throughout the night: Watt wasn't the only one on the field making plays. Safety Justin Reid proved it's possible to play defense in an exhibition game with this web gem to rob Deshaun Watson of an extra-base hit: The two teams were separated by offense and defense. They also competed in three different events, starting with Watt taking the home run derby title and as part of Team Defense's triumph in the potato sack race: Team Offense ultimately had the last laugh with a win in the tricycle race and the softball game: Video Play Button Videos you might like It's hard to call either side a loser on this night. The money raised goes to providing funding for after-school athletic programs at middle schools across the country that wouldn't normally be able to afford those events. Watt first held the Charity Classic in 2013 when it raised $320,000, per JJWFoundation.org. It has raised at least $1 million in each of the past three years, including 2019.<doc-sep>It’s May in Houston, which means it’s time for softball. All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt is having his annual softball classic, and his Houston Texans teammates are joining him. Follow the live blog for all the action, including the home run derby and softball game between the offense and defense. #Texans DE J.J. Watt talks about how his charity classic has grown since he brought it to Houston in 2012. pic.twitter.com/JnXzFTblV9 — Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 4, 2019 Backup quarterback A.J. McCarron produced five home runs as the leadoff hitter in the home run derby. #Texans backup QB A.J. McCarron leading off the J.J. Watt charity classic home run derby. pic.twitter.com/LG9wbOYZiV — Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 4, 2019 When was the last time you swung a bat, AJ McCarron: “never” — Anthony Wood (@arwoodNFL) May 4, 2019 He then proceeds to hit 5 homers… pic.twitter.com/LaTaypVIqo — Anthony Wood (@arwoodNFL) May 4, 2019 C/G Greg Mancz belted a couple homers. Meanwhile, long-snapper Jon Weeks had some trouble. LS Jon Weeks produxed zero. pic.twitter.com/t8h3Lf0Mv9 — Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 4, 2019 And the goose eggs just followed as center Nick Martin also produced nada. #Texans C Nick Martin didn't get a homer. I wonder how his brother will do next week in the #Cowboys home run derby. pic.twitter.com/iA4pBYlqG2 — Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 4, 2019 Quarterback Deshaun Watson continued the slump. #Texans QB Deshaun Watson can't buy a home run. pic.twitter.com/0OsNQe6xCV — Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 4, 2019 Great QB, but after 5 straight outs perhaps not a baseball player @deshaunwatson pic.twitter.com/9jjyWDvk9b — Anthony Wood (@arwoodNFL) May 4, 2019 Linebacker Brennan Scarlett couldn’t get a homer. Backup quarterback and special teams ace Joe Webb finally broke the slump. QB/special teamer/slot WR Joe Webb got two HRs. pic.twitter.com/qhGfFth3fZ — Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 4, 2019 Nose tackle D.J. Reader got two home runs. #Texans NT D.J. Reader with 2 HRs. — Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 4, 2019 #Texans DT D.J. Reader nails 2 home runs at the Home Run Derby! — Jon Fuentes (@JonFuentesMMA) May 4, 2019 Former punter Shane Lechler had a home run. Former #Texans punter Shane Lechler hits a HUGE homer before finishing 1-5 — Jon Fuentes (@JonFuentesMMA) May 4, 2019 Watt had four home runs, which got him in the final round with McCarron. #Texans DE J.J. Watt finishes 4-5 in the Home Run Derby! — Jon Fuentes (@JonFuentesMMA) May 4, 2019 #Texans DE J.J. Watt produces four HR in the derby. pic.twitter.com/tvRJTqBgQy — Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 4, 2019 In the second round of the home run derby, McCarron collected just one home run. It setup Watt to do what he does best and beat a quarterback as the defensive end belted two homers. Needing two home runs to beat McCarron, J.J. Watt comes through. pic.twitter.com/d6uXCzO7VM — Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 4, 2019 Unbelievable fans. I am forever grateful. pic.twitter.com/BkYliBbJy3 — JJ Watt (@JJWatt) May 4, 2019 #Texans DE J.J. Watt's introduction at his celebrity softball game. pic.twitter.com/Zs9n0p9XBm — Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 4, 2019 Great to see @JJWatt announcing that they’ve raised over $5 million since he founded the @JJWFoundation back in his junior year in @BadgerFootball – a real inspiration #Texans pic.twitter.com/qX5jroUjnm — Anthony Wood (@arwoodNFL) May 4, 2019 top of the first inning (0-0) Receiver Keke Coutee leads off for the offense and gets a pop fly that falls smack into the outfield. He gets tagged out trying to steal second. Quarterback Deshaun Watson got a base hit, and advanced to second as center Nick Martin produced a base hit. C/G Greg Mancz got a blooper and loaded up the bases for long-snapper John Weeks, who hit a bases-clearing RBI double with one out. Backup quarterback Joe Webb hit a moon shot that gave the offense a 5-0 lead with one out. Guard Zach Fulton hit a popup that cornerback Johnathan Joseph snagged to get the second out. Guard Senio Kelemete barely got to first after Joseph fielded a grounder and rifled it to J.J. Watt, who didn’t have his foot on the bag. A.J. McCarron tried to steal third, and nose tackle D.J. Reader threw the ball to defensive lineman Angelo Blackson at third base, who tagged out the backup quarterback. bottom of the first (6-1) Joseph leads off with a foul ball that McCarron grabs for the first out. Watson fields a routine grounder at short and sends it to running back D’Onta Foreman at first base, who fails to tag Reader. As they scramble to tag Reader out, he makes his way to second. Watt gets a base hit and advances Reader. Punter Shane Lechler pops out for the second out, but Reader tags at third and then scores the first run for the defense, who trail 5-1. Nose tackle Brandon Dunn strikes out to end the inning and strand Watt. Watt announced there would be fun games in between innings to earn bonus runs. A tricycle relay between safety Justin Reid and linebacker Dylan Cole versus receiver Keke Coutee and kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn was one of them. The offense got the extra run for a 6-1 lead. Keke Coutee rides a tricycle in a relay to earn a bonus run. #Texans K Ka'imi Fairbairn gets home in time. 6-1 offense over defense after one. pic.twitter.com/jZVtEqrSWj — Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 5, 2019 Offense wins the first competition of the night, tricycle racing… turns out @Kelemete65 is surprisingly fast #Texans @JJWFoundation pic.twitter.com/h7ltL2rIIN — Anthony Wood (@arwoodNFL) May 5, 2019 top of the second (6-1) Right tackle Seantrel Henderson got a routine base hit, but Foreman struck out for the first out of the inning. Tight end Jordan Akins is his own bonus run. The former minor league baseball player belted a two-run homer to give the offense an 8-1 lead. Coutee wasn’t fast enough and was out, the second of the inning. Watson got a base hit after he nearly got a home run with the ball bouncing off the fence in left field. Cornerback Bradley Roby snagged a pop up from Martin to end the offense’s side of the inning. bottom of the second (8-1)<doc-sep>With a swing of the bat, Texans star defensive end J.J. Watt knocked a home run over the left-field fence at Minute Maid Park. The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year beat backup quarterback A.J. McCarron in a home run derby during Watt's annual charity softball game Saturday night. The event benefits Watt's charitable foundation, helping groups in 37 different states with over $5 million donated since its launch. "It's an incredible testament to the fans, to the supporters, to the people who donate," Watt said. "I'm unbelievably thankful to all the fans, all my teammates and volunteers. This is bigger than I ever imagined it to be. "It's unbelievable. The amount of money we raised, the experiences, the Tweets, people coming from Maine and Chicago and Florida, it blows my mind. I'm so grateful and thankful. Our goal when we started this was to raise $100,000." Watt thoroughly enjoys the camaraderie built with his teammates, including the good-natured jokes about their respective softball skills. "I think the trash-talking, the build-up, the locker room right now is one of the best places to be," Watt said. "For most events, it's hard to get guys to show up early. Shane [Lechler] showed up like six hours ago. The guys were rolling in three or four hours before the game. They enjoy it so much they show up early." Watt said he appreciates being able to hold this event after not holding it last year as he was recovering from a broken leg and back surgeries two years ago. "It's obviously special with what I went through with injuries for two years," he said. "The thing that never went away was people seeing me on the streets and saying, 'Hello.' The people on the streets don't say, 'I love watching you on the field.' They say, 'Thank you for what you do.' To me, that's a thank you to everybody else. My name is on it. "It's my charity and my game, but there are so many people who make it happen and run it and make it what it is. I'm just the guy who's a voice for it all. I'm appreciative and I want to share that love with everybody else." GO BEYOND THE GAME: Go inside the breaking news and box scores with insights, detailed analysis and metrics in our Texas Sports Nation newsletter. Subscribe here.<doc-sep>
J.J. Watt has done it again. The master fundraiser collected over $1 million Saturday night at his annual charity softball game at Minute Maid Park. Watt was joined by Houston Texans teammates, split up on offense and defense, who took part in a home run derby and a seven-inning softball game. The game, whose proceeds go towards the Justin J. Watt Foundation, which as raised over $5 million in 35 states for after-school athletics opportunities for middle-school aged kids, is part of the philanthropy that makes Watt’s off-field life as gigantic as his on-field accomplishments. “It’s funny,” Watt said. “Everybody when I was in New York last weekend, people on the streets didn’t say they loved me on the field. They don’t say, ‘I love watching your performance.’ It’s more ‘thank you for what you’re doing.’ To me, that’s a thank you to everybody else.” Such a great event. When @JJWatt was in Wisconsin his goal was to raise one hundred thousand dollars. The @JJWFoundation Charity Classic has raised over 5 million dollars. #texans pic.twitter.com/uVxzDpC3Y2 — David Nuño (@DavidNunoABC13) May 4, 2019 The $1 million raised on Saturday was a continuation of the impact Watt’s charity event has had on the Houston community since its 2012 inception, back when Watt could only dream of hosting his softball event at Minute Maid Park. “So my first year we did it I grabbed a pencil and paper and I literally looked up all the ballparks around Houston,” Watt recalled. “I checked out Rice’s field. I saw their capacity. I checked out UH’s field. I checked out here, and I was like no way. So, Constellation Field we settled on and they sold it out, like, the first day. I was so thankful and grateful and we had it a couple of years out there before we moved here.” In 2016, the softball classic moved from the home of the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball to the home of the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball. Watt recalls how trepidatious he was that he couldn’t fill Minute Maid Park. Said Watt: “I was like, ‘This place holds about 42,000. It’s going to look bad if it doesn’t sell.’ And over 22,000 fans came. The amount of money that we raised, the people that come out, the experiences. We had some people say they came from Maine and Chicago and Florida and all over. It’s just I’m so thankful and grateful.” Watt walked away the winner of the home run derby, while the offense bested the defense 13-7. In the end, the children and families impacted by Watt’s eponymous foundation, via the contributions of his fans, made everyone a winner Friday evening.