Inaugural Garden City Spring Swing huge success
Baseball and softball players from the Garden City Athletic Association’s (GCAA) Challenger Program and Garden City High School came together to share their love of baseball at the First Annual Garden City Spring Swing event on Sunday April 19. Approximately 40 athletes participated in the event. Also in attendance were local families, school administrators and community leaders. On this sunny spring day, as the students played the game they love, walls were removed and bonds were created. As one mother wrote: “Thank you again for this fabulous event. My son had a great time and can’t wait to play baseball again. The Garden City High School players were such good role models and they looked like they were having as much fun as their guests. It was so nice to see.”
Two Garden City residents, Patrick Murtagh of Regis High School and Andrew Nagel of Garden City High School, came up with the idea to organize the Spring Swing after learning that April 19 was Global Youth Service Day. Established in 1988, Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) celebrates and mobilizes the millions of young people who improve their communities through service. GYSD is the largest service event in the world and the only one dedicated to the contributions that children and youth make 365 days a year.
This event would not have been possible without the efforts of everyone involved. Appreciation goes to Anna Dragone and Al Vanasco of GCAA for their help in advertising the event and securing the necessary permits, the Challenger coaches John Rakowski, John Sharkey and Manny Michalos for directing the day’s activities as well as Garden City High School’s varsity baseball coach Rich Smith and Garden City’s Athletic Director, Dawn Cerrone, for making this event a priority for the high school’s athletes. Special thanks also to Garden City Pizza for its donation and Garden City Friends of Baseball for funding the cost of printing tee shirts.
“To stand on the sidelines and watch the interaction and the good time that was being had by both the baseball team and our challenger team was truly emotional,” said one attendee. “For some parents who have a child with a disability, it can be a very isolating life for that child and sometimes for the parent as well, so when a day like this comes, it is a gift.”
“The Challenger Baseball event was outstanding,” shared coach Richie Smith. “Our players enjoyed participating in the game, and they continued talking about the experience at practice for some time.”
*Challenger is Little League’s adaptive sports program, which allows boys and girls with physical and developmental challenges to play the game they love.
