Celebs to play softball for charity

Special to The Vindicator

NILES

The first few innings of a Softball Game of Hope can be slow. But by the fifth or sixth inning, the game is serious.

“It starts getting competitive,” said Tony Spano, founder and executive director of The Hope Foundation, which hosts the game. Spano recruits local celebrities, politicians and community members to play in athletic events each year to raise money for the foundation.

“They’re competing for bragging rights for the year,” Spano said. “It’s pretty ugly.”

But there’s more at stake than pride.

The money raised is donated to local organizations to help chronically and or terminally ill children.

Spano started the volunteer-based foundation in 2005. It since has raised $50,000.

Thirty volunteers — all with varying athletic abilities — will compete in this summer’s game Aug. 7 at Eastwood Field in Niles, home of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

“It’s nice to see politicians in a different perspective and not really knowing [how to play] softball,” Spano said. “When you get them out of their offices, they’re just normal people.”

State Rep. Joe Schiavoni of Canfield, D-33rd, has participated in the Basketball Game of Hope the past two years.

“Everybody acts like they’re not going to be competitive in the beginning,” he said. “But anyone who says they aren’t trying their hardest is lying.”

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray plays against Schiavoni’s hoops team each year. Cordray lost this year but said he isn’t sore about it. A basketball fan, Cordray won’t be at next month’s slow-toss game.

“I stink at softball,” he said.

Tickets are $5 in advance and can be purchased at www.hopmv.org. They cost $7 the day of the game, which starts at 4 p.m. Children will receive free pizza, chips and pop, and everyone can stay to watch the Scrappers take on the Aberdeen IronBirds at 7:05 p.m.

Spano expects the softball game to raise more than $5,000, which will be awarded through The Hope Foundation’s grant program next year.

Past recipients have included Akron Children’s Hospital of the Mahoning Valley and the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

“It’s about the kids,” Spano said. “It’s all about the kids.”