It’s December and we are all desperately missing baseball, right? It’s also almost Christmas time when we are thinking of what to put on our list to Santa. I know I have David Ortiz and a starting pitching on my list, how about you?
(Winterball 2010 Participants)
Well, if you happen to want to catch a live albeit chilly baseball game, you might be in luck. Saturday December 3rd brings the 11th Annual Winterball Game to Benefit Toys for Tots in Malden, MA. The Boston Amateur Network is hosting the event. Winterball is a 9-inning baseball game fundraiser played OUTSIDE the first weekend in December. Over 100 amateur baseball players from several local MA leagues participate in the event. Each participant is required to bring a toy donation to Toys for Tots in order to get on the roster. This game is played outside and the average game temperature has been a chilly 39 degrees. Brrr! It also sounds like a heck of a lot of fun!
This year the game will be a battle of the ages. The teams are going to be those 18+ against those 30+, as the Young Bucks take on the Aging Stallions. As someone in the stallions category, best of luck to them!
So, if you happen to be near Malden on Saturday then check it out…and BRING A TOY. It sounds like a fun event that also works for a great charity. I couldn’t be more supportive of Toys for Tots. Children not only need food, shelter and clothing, but all children also deserve to wake up on Christmas morning with presents under the tree. I think this event is amazing and know it will once again be a smashing success!
Here is the basic info for the event on Saturday:
Date/Time: Saturday, December 3, 2011
10:00AM – Batting Practice
10:30AM – United States Marines arrive to collect toys
11:00AM – First Pitch
Location: Maplewood Park, 99 Crystal Street, Malden, MA
About Toys for Tots:
The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.
UPDATE: The 11th annual Winterball was a huge success, drawing dozens of amateur adult baseball players from local baseball leagues across New England to play a game to benefit Toys for Tots. With a game-time temperature of 39 degrees, the Young Bucks (players aged 18-29) defeated the Aging Stallions (players aged 30+) in a 10-inning contest by a score of 6 to 5.
With the score 6-2 in the 10th inning, the Aging Stalling rallied for 3 runs before the game-tying run was called out at the plate to end the contest. Sgt. Major Rick Peterson of the United States Marines was on hand to collect the toy donations, and even through out the game’s first pitch.
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