50 | June 13, 2019 | The wilmette beacon SPORTS wilmettebeacon.com Posted to WilmetteBeaconDaily.com 2 days ago Buddy Baseball begins fourth year with more than 50 volunteers Alexa Burnell Freelance Reporter Wilmette’s Jeff Kost believes that all children, regardless of ability, should have the opportunity to play baseball. So, in 2016, he spearheaded The Wilmette Baseball Association’s Buddy Baseball – a program that gives New Trier Township kids with varying developmental and physical disabilities the chance to play ball with assistance from compassionate youth volunteers. Since inception, Buddy Baseball has grown by leaps and bounds and now has over 40 registered players. On Sunday, June 9, those players, along with over 50 teen volunteers, headed to West Park for opening day. Once there, all the players, their families, coaches and volunteers, collectively enjoyed the rituals that come with a day at the ballpark, while learning valuable life lessons along the way. “Buddy Baseball is a win-win for all. Players can participate in a sport program to the fullest of their abilities in a fun and safe environment where there are no judgements regarding performance,” Kost explained. “Their families get to enjoy watching their children play and interact with teenagers in the community. Buddy volunteers also benefit from the program, learning valuable lessons and earning the type of self-satisfaction that comes from knowing they make a difference. The characteristics of empathy and patience are abundant in all of our volunteers.” Before the start of the game, players warmed- up with their volunteers, practicing their catching, hitting and pitching. Next, Wilmette Boy Scout Troop 3 began the ceremony by presenting the American flag. Travis Tassone then sang the national anthem, before Park District Board President Amy Wolfe gave a few words, complementing the program’s mission. “This is an incredible program and one the Park District is proud to support. Buddy Baseball is an all-inclusive program, allowing kids to be part of a team and a community.” Wolfe said. Kristin Harper watched her son Trace enjoy the ballgame almost as much as he enjoyed entertaining the crowd with his enthusiastic rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” For her, “the sense of community is what makes Buddy Baseball so special.” “What I love about Buddy Baseball is that I get to support Trace, while watching all his friends enjoy the experience of participating in a team sport. This program is about inclusivity; it also allows kids to find what truly interests them. For example, we came for baseball, which Trace loves, but what he loves even more is singing and entertaining the crowd. Being asked to sing during the 7th inning stretch is really special for him.” Kristin Harper said. For volunteers like seventh grade Wilmette Junior High School student Ava Householder, the satisfaction from knowing she is doing a good deed, is what motivated her to become a volunteer for the first time. “When I learned about Buddy Baseball, I knew I wanted to volunteer because I really enjoy helping people who need it,” she said. “I love knowing that I am making a difference.” Similarly, Harold Stricklin, of Winnetka added, “putting a smile on the faces of Trace Harper, 9, of Central Elementary sings “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at Buddy Baseball’s opening day Sunday, June 9, at West Park. Alexa Burnell/22nd Century Media the players is the best part. I’m glad to be part of a program that means so much to so many other people.” For more information about Wilmette Baseball Association and Buddy Baseball visit http:// wilmettebaseball.org/home Posted to WilmetteBeaconDaily.com 2 days ago Multiple New Trier boats win titles at national championships Submitted by New Trier Rowing New Trier crews made some history at the Scholastic Rowing Association of America’s Championships at Dillon Lake in Nashport, Ohio under mostly sunny skies May 24 and 25. The Men’s Varsity Lightweight 8+ crew medaled in the competition for the first time ever, capturing third place in the national regatta, and both the Men’s and Women’s Freshman 8+ boats won first place in their races for the first time since 2007. The Women’s Second Varsity 8+ also took the gold medal for the fifth year in a row. Varsity Lightweight and JV boys’ coach Charles Richardson called the New Trier Men’s Lightweight 8+ “pioneers” for earning the first lightweight medal for the boys’ squad in New Trier history. “Led by four seniors, I couldn’t be more proud of the hard work these athletes have put in to get New Trier on the podium after consecutive years of placing just outside of medals,” Richardson said. Coxswain Griffen Schmelter said, “Our lightweight boat does a really good job of getting out of the gates with the rest of the crews. Then we were able to trust our fitness and make gains on the rest of the boats in the toughest section of the race.” Senior Molly George had this to say about her Second Varsity 8+ race, “My last row for New Trier was one of the best moments — a culminating success to finish off four years of hard work with the team. As I sat at the finish line catching my breath after the race, before the nine of us knew we were national champions, I realized that it didn’t matter whether we won first or second place. What a wonderful way to go out! I know I’ll take the positivity, persistence, and grace under pressure that I needed to exist on this team with me to excel in whatever I do.“ Fellow senior Jasmine Wu said the fact that 8 of the 9 rowers on the boartwere seniors “made us want it more and pull harder.” Coaches for the two gold-medal winning freshman boats praised what Novice girls’ Coach Hope Poor called their “substantial victory” in the finals. The girls won their final by six seconds; the boys “won by a boat length,” Novice boys’ Coach Josip Stolar said. “I was impressed with their maturity and ability to improve their performance with each race.” Of the 11 New Trier crews who qualified to participate, 10 went on to race in their finals. The crews who medaled were the Women’s Freshman 8+ 1st, Men’s Freshman 8+ 1st, Women’s Second Varsity 8+ 1st, Women’s Varsity Lightweight 4+ 2nd and Men’s Varsity Lightweight 8+ 3rd. Head varsity boys’ coach Nate Kelp-Lenane said, “This was an exceptional weekend for the Trevians. I couldn’t be more proud of how the team operated and executed. A huge thank you to this senior class that lead the team with humility and hard work.” Other crews that participated were: Women’s First Varsity 8+ 4th, Men’s Second Varsity 8+ 4th, Men’s Second Varsity 8+ 4th, Women’s Varsity Lightweight 8+ 5th, Men’s First Varsity 8+ 5th and Women’s Junior Varsity 8+ 6th. Program Director Rose Marchuk noted that New Trier meets its best competition of the spring season at this regatta. “The competition is intense with boats battling down a 1,500 meter course stroke for stroke. It becomes a real test of trusting your conditioning and your teammates while pushing your physical and mental limits.” More history: One astute parent pointed out that this was the first time there have been two sets of twins in New Trier’s top boats: Rachel and Jonah Rane coxed the 1st Varsity boats, and twins Tommy and Katherine Figura rowed in those boats as well. One of those twins, Katherine Figura, stroke of the Women’s First Varsity 8+, said her crew focused on “putting everything we had into the race, which translated into a fast start and an even faster finish.”
wilmettebeacon.com wilmette the wilmette beacon | June 13, 2019 | 51 THANKYOU! Illinois Baseball Academy and its staff would like to publicly recognize the following local businesses whose generous contributions have helped make the 2019 Spring League a huge success for over 500 young players and their families... it is teammates like you that make our COMMUNITY so special. Thank you! —CHRIS BEACOM, FOUNDER Body Science PFT Done Deal Promotions Grateful Bites Pizza Shoppe Grins on Green Bay Glencoe Baseball Association Heart Certified Auto Care Hynes Auto Service Kenilworth-Winnetka Baseball Association Karol’s Barbershop Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria Lefty’s Pizza Kitchen Mathasium Mid-Central Printing Morgante Wilson Architects Napolita Pizzeria Nick’s Bar & Grill Pediatric Associates North Shore Plaza Orthodontics Shred 415 Spynergy Stormy’s Tavern and Grille Spenga The Grand Food Center Tip-Top Training Torino Ramen Vivid Art Gallery Wilmette Auto Body Wilmette Baseball Association Wilmette Bike Shop Wilmette Dental Wellness Revolution
Change language