Pitching in for good cause

By John Bassetti

The parents of YSU catcher McKenzie Bedra brought equipment from their home in Bowling Green.

CANFIELD — Rocky the Recycling Raccoon would have been proud.

On a day more suited for Christmas tree shopping, residents of Canfield and elsewhere spent a few moments dropping off baseball and softball equipment to be used by Youngstown inner-city youth.

“We certainly hit a home run for recycling,” said Ed Colon, executive director of the Youngstown Police Athletic League that is a principle player in the drive to collect items for distribution to help YPAL’s baseball league, the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club of Youngstown.

“We managed to obtain quite a lot of equipment,” Colon said of the 200 helmets, 150 bats, 100 gloves, catcher’s gear and cleated shoes brought to McCune Field Saturday or dropped off in advance.

“Because we’re a relatively new organization, this is our first time putting on a city baseball league,” Colon said. “Starting out is rough because we don’t have the equipment necessary, so this was a very important and successful event. It allows us to have equipment to utilize for youth.”

While the equipment collection was the focus on one stage, a softball doubleheader was also in progress in the vicinity.

The YPAL collection tables were situated behind the backstop to McCune’s Dale Stryffeler Field where Youngstown State’s softball team lost two games to Wright State.

While it wasn’t a good day for the Penguins, Colon Co. loaded one pick-up truck of equipment and had enough for another.

“I’m very happy,” said Colon, explaining that YPAL’s mission will be easier.

“Inner-city youth will be alongside police officers who will serve as coaches and mentors. They’ll see the officers in a good light, someone they’ll come to respect, especially when they see that same coach doing his job enforcing the law.”

Colon and Jose Morales, YPAL’s sports coordinator, along with Sarah Ellis of YSU’s re:CREATE and Green Team environmental educator Peg Flynn stood in the cold, but graciously greeted donors.

One of them was Rick Patterson.

“I played ball 50 years ago at Gibson Field,” said the 60-year-old retired Air Force master sergeant, now of Canfield.

“I grew up off Gibson Street when it was called the Gibson dump with a ball field on the other end,” said Patterson, whose house was on Benwood, about a half-block away.

“We used to walk to the edge of the dump and played sandlot ball down there. I didn’t play any organized league, but it was fun; we’d do it all day. We [neighborhood kids] didn’t have a lot money, but we didn’t get in trouble because we were always busy.”

Patterson, now head custodian at Lloyd Elementary in Austintown, coached in Austintown’s youth league for nine years.

“I read about the recycling in the newspaper and decided to get rid of the used equipment I had stored.

Patterson walked away from the YPAL collection carrying a YSU drinking cup and an “Earth Day Every Day” litter bag containing a water bottle and pen, both courtesy of the Youngstown Litter Control and the Green Team of Mahoning County.

Bill Manley walked up to the tables carrying a Rawlings bag with gloves and some bats.

“It’s stuff I collected when I played,” the Boardman fireman said of his days in the Metro softball league.

“I saw the recycling drive on Vindy.com and thought it’d be a good way for somebody to get a few more years out of them.”

Sam Dye, a coach in the Canfield Baseball Club system, would have taken his team of 7- 8-year-olds to a tournament in Cleveland if the weather wasn’t so wet and chilly.

Instead, he drove to McCune to drop off his donation.

“It’s good equipment, but it’s good to give to someone who should get a lot use out of it,” said Dye, who said the CBC urged its members to support the project.

One gentleman wearing a Mahoning Valley Thunder pullover approached the tables with a contribution from his kids, a daughter, 12, and an 11-year-old son. Dr. Jon Saadey said they’ve outgrown equipment they had since they began playing in the Canfield league since they were 6.

“I had some catcher’s equipment, gloves, helmets, a bat and a bat bag in a toy chest in the garage,” said Saadey, a co-owner of the af2 team. “It’s a great idea. The more kids who play baseball the better.”

Marty Fitzgerald returned to McCune during the YSU doubleheader after erecting yellow drain-tile tubing along the fences of one of McCune’s little league fields.

“The league sent out an e-mail to coaches and parents that YPAL was starting a league,” said Fitzgerald, a manager of the Antone’s Restaurant team. “I thought it was a worthy cause,” said Fitzgerald, who had sore hands from his volunteer work in the cold earlier that day.

Susan Hendricks and Karen Hubert drove up in their vehicles to drop off items.

Hendricks said she was housecleaning and decided to make some room by making a sacrifice to drive to McCune.

“I brought what I could,” Hendricks said. “I wish I had more.”

Three of Huber’s four children still play in the CBC.

“I had a lot of extra gloves and some spikes that were hardly worn. It’s a great idea.”

Kirk Brown was another individual donor, while Sean McKinney and YSU president Dr. David Sweet threw out ceremonial first pitches at the games.

McKinney, commissioner of Youngstown’s building and grounds dept., represented Mayor Jay Willliams.

Canfield Baseball’s Gary Williams, also a YSU assistant softball coach, said he expects to receive more equipment as part of the drive that is ongoing until May 30.

bassetti@vindy.com