by CISCO TORRES
ON FRIDAY, MAY 31st the SLV One Hit Wonders Softball Club participated in the Making May Miracles Charity Softball Tournament at the Riverview Park Complex in North Augusta. The event benefited the RECing Crew.
The RECing Crew Special Leisure and Recreation Association is a non-profit organization and community partner with the United Way that was established in 2002 by the families and friends of those with disabilities to offer leisure and recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities from the CSRA. These programs enhance the physical, emotional, and social growth of those that participate. Currently, there are 200+ amazing individuals, ranging in the ages from 6-88, that participate in one or more of the offered programs.
The night was both to raise additional funds needed for the all-new Miracle League Field and to celebrate its opening. The field was created as a space for those with disabilities to play sports. Playing on grass isn’t easy for everyone.“The current rec fields have surfaces that aren’t very accessible for individuals with disabilities,” said Pamela Stickler who runs the organization behind the project. Uneven surfaces and ruts make it difficult for some to play on the field.
She said the new field is a multipurpose, totally accessible field open to any special needs organization in the area. It has a synthetic turf surface, an accessible dugout, pavilion, and more.
The night started off with some incredibly enthusiastic members of the RECing Crew playing a game on their old field as the new one was not quite ready, but as of this writing should be open for play.
Prior to the softball action Dottie Torres & Sheila Layton presented a check for $1,000.00 to Pam Stickler. A special thanks goes out to SLV resident Carrie Gehlbach and Texas Instruments who matched our donated funds.
SLV’s One Hit Wonders took to the field in their first game against the Aiken Seniors and the Wonders brought the lumber as they throttled Aiken 25 - 8. Bob Capitani kept opposing hitters off balance all game mixing up his pitches and served notice that he was shutting down the middle on the first pitch of the game as he gloved a hard-hit line drive. He was backed up defensively all-around but most notably by Scott “The Hammer” Hammerton with some glovely work at 1st base.
The Wonders then took on the Augusta Hitting Club in the final as they ignored the good-natured trash talking and countered the young legs of the North Augusta Police Department with some timely late inning hitting to win a close one.
The Wonders fell behind early 10 – 0 but stormed back with the help of a towering home run to centerfield by Cisco Torres and a massive blast to left by Jimmy Zelgewicz. Going into the bottom of the 7th the Wonder still had a chance thanks to an ESPN Web Gem worthy grab by Len Fouch as he went up the 3rd base line battling the lights and making a spectacular over the shoulder catch. But, the Wonders came up short falling 17 – 15. It was a Great night for a great cause, and we are all so proud to have been able to do our part.
To learn more about the RECing Crew please visit www.therecingcrew.com.