Palm Springs rivalry game to be played in memory of slain officer

Just one week after the year anniversary of the deaths of Palm Springs Police Officers Lesley Zerebny and Gil Vega, their colleagues will take to the softball field to play a game in Zerebny’s honor.

The annual softball game between firefighters and police officers in Palm Springs will now be called the Lesley Zerebny Memorial Softball game, and it will be held on Oct. 15.

Det. Chris Jaeger, a fellow PSPD officer and Zerebny’s friend, said “Lesley loved to play the game and she was an integral part of our team since she arrived. Now, with the annual game taking on her namesake, she always will remain an active part of this event as long as we carry it forward.”

Photo Gallery of Lesley playing for PSPD’s softball team

Zerebny participated in her second softball game against the Palm Springs firefighters just three weeks before she and Vega were killed while answering a domestic disturbance call in Palm Springs, and days after returning from maternity leave. She brought her infant daughter Cora to the softball game in 2016.

Jaeger said Zerebny played softball while growing up in Hemet, and in high school.

The 1st Annual Lesley Zerebny Memorial Softball game will be held at 6:00 p.m. at Big League Dreams in Cathedral City. Tickets have a suggested donation price of $5. Funds will go to the Palm Springs Police Memorial Fund.