As the boys of summer get prepared to settle into the pennant chase, some hip-hop artists are apparently getting caught up in their own diamond fever, as Big Daddy Kane, Sunz of Man, Das EFX and Heltah Skeltah, among others, have signed up to go to bat for charity as part of the "Hip-Hop World Series.

Series organizers have announced plans to stage the celebrity softball tournament at New York City's Randall's Island during August to benefit eight area charity agencies, each of which will be represented by a team, according to "Billboard.

Members of the eight teams will be filled by the already mentioned hip-hop artists, along with other industry and label personnel, with the first pitch of the softball competition scheduled to be thrown out on August 2.

The games will culminate with a three-day tournament on August 23, 28 and 30, and while none of the games are slated to be open to the public, they will be taped for possible broadcast at a later date.