As of Sept. 22, autumn is here. Ballplayers in Scotch Plains-Fanwood have been taking the field amidst the seasonal change. While the high school teams are months away from their spring season, students have been putting in off-season work in the High School Aged Fall Development six-week training program. The program was offered by Scotch Plains-Fanwood Baseball League.
Among those students are senior pitchers Jack Byrne and CJ Bates who were inspired by the Mental Performance Leadership Program and by training coach and alumnus Joe McClintock to hold a baseball game at 4:00 p.m. on Oct. 14 at the varsity baseball field to raise awareness for community members who have been affected by a cancer diagnosis.
Byrne, captain of the blue team and Bates, pink, will be on opposing sides during the scrimmage, but will be standing up together against cancer.
“We [want] to have a fun, high-competition baseball scrimmage between our program that boosts the SPFHS baseball program’s morale,” Byrne told The Fanscotian. “We hope to have many parents, family members, friends, teachers and siblings attend this event, and come support the baseball program and help support this cause.”
People can participate in the event by purchasing a strikeout cancer sign for five dollars and registering to play for $20, which comes with a shirt. Use the link at the bottom of this article to do either of these!
“The community support for events like the one we have is very good. There is a ton of support and camaraderie in SPF about events for good causes and things like this,” Byrne said.
