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Saturday, June 24
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We are not huge baseball fans but decided to go to the 50th Anniversary of the Manheim Church League to watch a game or two and buy some food to help with their fundraiser for Teen Central and the Home on Ferdinand.
This league started 70 years ago as fast-pitch, then 20 years later changed to slow-pitch. Our congregation has been part of this for most of that time and in recent years has two teams.
Since we had not gone to a game this year, I found it rather difficult to follow an all-star game, because everyone was in different colored uniforms. If I remember correctly each of the seventeen teams chose 3 players to be in the all-star game.
The day started before we got there with some of the old-timers playing a game. There was also a home run derby, which we got to enjoy.
After watching some baseball, we walked toward the food trucks and the displays of Teen Central and Home on Ferdinand.
Teen Central is a non-profit organization, incorporated as Oasis Youth Services, providing
Spiritual Development and Quality Life Experiences for the Youth of Manheim, PA.
Home on Ferdinand is part of Manheim Community Life Group with a six-to-twelve-month transitional living program for women and children experiencing homelessness in Manheim, PA. Our program is to provide tools, self-reflection, and walk alongside the families in their journey to regain stability and hope. Home on Ferdinand is dedicated to creating a safe environment for families to be unapologetically themselves by focusing their growth in areas of employment, acquiring childcare, providing strength based individualized case management, counseling, and various classes such as wellness, financial, nutrition, and more to grow and develop for long term sustainability.
I read in the online article the next day that $12,446 was raised for these two missions.
The food trucks offered a variety of foods, water and sodas. This is where Cerwin got his cheeseburger. Notice the donation box on the right. This is how everyone paid for the food they purchased.
The food trucks were sponsored, so were not responsible for donating their food and time.
We shared an order of French fries and a two-dip container of ice cream from our favorite “Fox Meadows”.
It was a delightful afternoon to watch a variety of baseball activities, eat food and talk to friends.
I wonder how his mom (Jill) will get his white jeans clean.
Some of my sister’s family joined us (next to Cerwin) because my brother-in-law Marlin was coaching third base for the last all-star game of the day.
Before that game began, they honored our cousin Mike Givler for organizing and emceeing this event.
Mike (center) and his wife Jen (left). I think he is more comfortable emceeing the games. 🙂
Mike has been the league president since 2001 and has played since 1985 when he was 15 years old. He also serves as umpire when needed.
My brother-in-law Marlin coaching third base for the last all-star game of the day.
We thought this team was going to get 10-runned as his team was slow in getting runs, while the other team quickly gained runs. Then, slowly Marlin’s team gained runs and outdid the other team with a score of 12 to 11 in the bottom of the 9th inning!
The final two teams.
That was a fun afternoon.