LYNN — With a week of fundraising winding down, the Lynn 16-18-year-old Babe Ruth All-Stars were able to get some work in Monday night in a scrimmage against the North Shore Giants at Fraser Field.
Lynn departs for the World Series in Jamestown, New York on Thursday morning and has worked toward the goal of raising between $8,000 to $10,000 to fund the trip.
“We’re all spent,” Lynn coach Al Donovan said. “Probably from last Thursday to now and into tomorrow we’ve been doing canning and all sorts of fundraising. You only have so much time, which is tough.”
With Lynn’s pitchers taking the mound for both teams in the scrimmage, each hurler, including Lou Vidal, Devin Curley, Spencer Divirgillio, Nick Reiser, David Barnard and Colin Reddy, got plenty of work in.
“They approached me wanting to get some work in,” Giants coach Mike Roberts said. “Their pitching staff needed to get some live at bats against a team and we were more than willing to help out.
“We made it kind of like a fundraiser effort as well to generate some more money,” Roberts, who also coaches Lynn Jets hockey, added. “Our team paid for the umpires and donated another $400 to try to help them.”
The donation and game time is something coaches Donovan and Leon Elwell appreciated.
“It’s not even just helping us out, they took a collection and donated to our cause which is great,” Donovan said. “A lot of these guys played in Lynn Babe Ruth it’s really nice of them to give back.”
“We really appreciate them taking time out of their busy schedule,” Elwell said. “All those guys work. They had a double-header yesterday so for them to come down here tonight, we really appreciate it and are thankful to them.”
The donation is a small token of appreciation and an opportunity to give back to the community while helping Lynn Babe Ruth, Roberts said.
“It’s not much, only a $500 donation (including umpire costs) but they got some time in,” Roberts added. “It might get them a good meal out there it was a good opportunity, a great game and fun for all sides.”
Now the focus is on the World Series with only a few days before the Lynners leave for Jamestown.
“I can’t wait to get out of here,” Donovan said. “You look forward to it after all the fundraising, last minute decisions and ordering shorts and shirts for kids, we’re running around all over. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes. We just can’t wait till Thursday morning comes.
“It’s going to come down to plays down there,” Donovan added. “These guys have put themselves in position to make plays all year long and have competed at a high level in the regionals. We have great pitchers and great defense that will be ready.”
“The kids are loose,” Elwell said. “I like the fact that we’re getting on the bus and going for an eight hour ride, it’s a chance for the kids to bond a little bit more and get a little bit closer. They’re pretty close as it is but just to get on the bus and give them a chance. They’re ready to go and they’re having a good time.”
