A couple of familiar faces returned Aug. 19 to the local ball field. Former Red Sox player Bill Lee and retired local umpire Bob Pascal participated in a celebrity softball game benefiting the Boothbay Region Ambulance Service.

The game pitted the “New England All-Stars” including Red Sox alumni Lee, Jim Corsi, Billy Joe Robideau, Ken Ryan and Dale Plummer along with former New England Patriot Patrick Pass versus the Boothbay Region High School football team in a softball game. The Red Sox alumni started playing charity events in Boothbay Harbor about 20 years ago. Lee was one of the first players to form the charity softball team. Prior to softball. Lee and a  retired group of major leaguers played baseball on a team called the “Gray Sox.” Lee, George Foster, Bill Buckner, Dick MacAuliffe and Dave Stapleton were also members of the baseball version.

“We played a lot of college teams and usually won,” Lee said. “And I remember having to play Buckner, in right, and Stapleton, at first, because fans would get on Buckner about the ’86 World Series.”

But now the New England All-Stars play softball with a team of retired ballplayers living in New England. Lee enjoys coming to Boothbay and participates in many charitable events throughout the year including the Boothbay Charities Classic.

“You come here and people treat you right,” he said. “Boothbay is about the best place on Earth. Plus, we’re also doing something for a good cause.”

Pascal returned to the diamond after a three-year absence. He umpired in St. Louis and coastal Maine for 53 years. Pascal, 75, began his umpiring career doing Little League games. In his second season, he had a full schedule of high school and college games before he moved to Maine in 1993. He umpired with Waldoboro’s Dennis Wooster, who died unexpectedly this month at  72.

“During the pre-game conference, he would tell the coaches between us we have a hundred years of umpiring experience. I had a lot of good times umpiring with Dennis,” he said.

Pascal described his love of the game as why he umpired for over a half century.

“I loved being part of the game. It is a privilege to be out here because the game is still a lot of fun,” Pascal said.

This year’s game also featured a newcomer. Pass played on three Super Bowl-winning teams (2001, 2003 and 2004) for the Patriots. He lives in North Providence, Rhode Island, and participates in about two dozen charity softball games per year. Pass came to Boothbay Harbor for the same reason he travels throughout New England.

“It’s for the kids,” Pass said. “It’s a long way to Boston or Foxborough. So this gives them a chance to meet some professional athletes. We also raise money for a good cause, too. So I’m glad to do this.”

The Red Sox alumni outscored the local football team opponents during the six-inning game, but the real winner was the Boothbay Region Ambulance Service.