United Way plans baseball clinic, alumni game for community campaign
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on October 14, 2008 1:46 PM
MOUNT OLIVE -- United Way of Wayne County and the national champion Mount Olive College Trojans will team up for an afternoon of baseball Saturday.
Events will be free, but United Way officials are encouraging donations to the organization's annual campaign drive.
The day's events will include a baseball clinic for youths ages 5-18, a home run derby featuring area baseball standouts and the annual Mount Olive College alumni baseball game.
All events will be held on Mount Olive College's Scarborough Field.
"We are excited to be partnering with Coach Carl Lancaster and his Mount Olive College Trojans, as well as Coach George Whitfield, for this event," said David Perry, chairman for United Way of Wayne County's 2008 campaign. "We are pleased to hold this event in Mount Olive, and to reinforce the message that United Way reaches all across Wayne County."
The community's annual campaign for United Way is approaching the mid-point showing 47 percent of the goal has been attained, with $667,192 pledged.
The community campaign will conclude Dec. 4 at Goldsboro Chrysler Dodge Jeep when one Fair Share investor will win a 2008 PT Cruiser.
The youth baseball clinic will start at 1 p.m. A special invitation is extended to members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County, but the clinic is open to all boys and girls ages 5-18. Area youth baseball teams are also encouraged to attend, and their coaches and parents are invited to sit in on the sessions as well. Children can wear their uniforms and bring their baseball bats and gloves and other equipment if they have them, but they are not necessary to be part of the clinic.
Registration for the clinic begins at 12:30 p.m. The first 25 youths will receive a scholarship to the 2009 George Whitfield Baseball Clinic Jan. 10 at Goldsboro High School. In addition, free baseballs will be given to clinic participants during registration as supplies last.
The home run derby, featuring members of the 2008 Division II National Championship Team, will start at 3 p.m.
Erik Lovett, who recently finished his first season with the Staten Island Yankees, is Mount Olive College's career home run hitter. He hit four home runs in the NCAA tournament last spring. Other derby participants include MOC seniors Rich Racobaldo and Alex Vertcnik. East Carolina University players Kyle Roller and Devin Harris will also take their turns at bat.
Also participating is Trojan alum Craig Hurba, who belted 16 home runs during his senior year. Hurba was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft. Rounding out the derby will be MOC alumni Trae McKee, Southern Wayne High School's head baseball coach, and his brother Scott McKee, who hit 15 home runs in two seasons in the minor leagues.
After the derby, the public is invited to take in the college's annual alumni baseball game, which starts at 5 p.m.
For more information, contact the United Way of Wayne County at 735-3591 or the Mount Olive College Athletic Department at 658-7759.