Fall Registration Now Open!

It's hard to believe that the summer is almost over and school is just around the corner! With the advent of fall the Miracle League of Westchester is about to embark on its 4th season of Fall Ball. Over the summer the volunteer board met to discuss the spring season and how we can make the Fall season even better.  In order to capture all those interested in playing  in the fall we are requiring that buddies and players register again using our online system. When you sign up you are committing yourself for the season. Please understand that if you sign up and don't show you are hurting the chances for another player to participate that may have been shut out due to the size limits per team.

Further information follows:

 

PLAYERS: The fall season will begin on September 18 running every Saturday and Sunday culminating on October 24th with our annual awards picnic. Game times will be 10:30, 11:45 and 1:00 on Saturdays. Sundays will see the Spectrum games for 5-10 year olds at 9:30 and a  session for 10-14 year olds at 10:30. A regular session will be held at 11:45 and the skills group commences at 1:00. Please use the player/buddy links on the side to register your child. In the comments box please indicate your preference for day and time....if you do not indicate a time we will place your child where there is room.

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WE ARE LIMITING THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS PER TEAM TO 15, FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS! SO REGISTER EARLY!

Once you hit the submit button your information is automatically saved. There is no need to call anyone to confirm just show up at the appointed time.

 

SPECTRUM PROGRAM: Players that fall within the 5-9 age range will play on Sundays at 9:30 while the 10-14 year old players will play at 10:30. When registering, again, please indicate your preference for the program time in the comments box. Both programs will be strictly limited to 20 players.  

 

BUDDIES:     We are in need of consistent buddies for all programs. Again when signing up to volunteer please indicate the day and time that you will be attending in the comments box. If the response for a certain hour becomes overwhelming we may limit the number of buddies per time slot.  Also if you are doing this to meet certain personal or school requirements please indicate that information in the comments box. 

 

COACH/COORDINATORS: This is an area of concern for those of us who have been affiliated with the league since its inception. We have a core group of people who bring their talents to the field and help coordinate the childrens efforts with success. But without the very important coach/coordinator other teams seem to fall apart. I know that there must be some additional people out there  who are wiling to take on this very important role and assist the children.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO KNOW BASEBALL TO DO THIS JOB...JUST BE WILLING TO CALL THE TEAM MEMBERS WEEKLY..SET THE LINE-UP AT THE FIELD..AND ACT AS THE CHEERLEADER/MENTOR/FRIEND/BUDDY DIRECTOR FOR THE TIME THAT YOUR TEAM IS ON THE FIELD. WE NEED YOU!!!! 

We are ready to assist you with this important job in any way possible to ensure success. When signing up please  use the comments box to indicate your willingness to assist. Believe me when I tell you that this may turn out to be one of the most rewarding experiences that you will have ever.

 

Have a great rest of the summer. See you after Labor Day!!

 

 

 

 

 
 
Great Night! Great Movie

August 14, 2010

Last night the Miracle League in conjunction with the Westchester County Department of Parks and recreation presented their first ever Movie Night. Especially geared for families of children and adults with special needs the night was a qualified success. Attended by 100 or more people those in attendance were treated to free popcorn and plenty of drinks and ice cream.With people slowly arriving the crowd was shown the two Miracle League videos followed immediately by a showing of the film "The Sandlot". Everyone there left well sated and entertained by one of the best baseball movies ever. 

Thanks go out the members of the Miracle League Board who gave up their evening to help out especially Annabelle Strozza and Evan Latainer, the staff of Ridge Road Park and the video crew from the Parks and Recreation Department who made this event possible.

Judging by the feedback this won't be the last time we do this.

 
Miracle League Buddy in the Hunt for a Championship

Miracle League buddy Brian Starker is sitting pretty going into the second round of the American Junior Golf Association Tournament at Apawamis Golf Club. Starker fired a 71 yesterday leaving him one stroke behind the leader, Bennett Lavin from Deerfield, Ill. This tournament attracts Junior golfers from all over the country.

Brian and his family have been involved with the Miracle League since its inception. They have actively participated in and supported our events and day to day operations. All of us from the Miracle League family are pulling for Brian. 

For more information please copy this link into your browser:

http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201008110230/SPORTS05/8110327

 

8/11/10 8:36 PM Update!

Starker is only 3 strokes back from the leader after two rounds of play completed. He is poised to make a move tomorrow in the final round to win the tournament. Good Luck Brian, we are all pulling for you!

 

Go Brian!

 

8/14/10

Brian Starker, Miracle League buddy and supporter wound up with a fifth place finish in this tournament. To put this inperspective this tounament attracts golfers from all over the country. All of us in the Miracle League are very proud of Brian's accomplishment

 
Spring Fruitful for The Miracle League of Westchester

This spring the Miracle League was the beneficiary of demonstrated generosity from many different sources. As a result of this the league will be able to continue to offer free Spring, Summer and Fall baseball programs at the field for the children in addition to continuing to provide the adult program at a nominal fee.

The gold outing was a HUGE success thanks to the over 116 golfers who attended.  The day was perfect for the golfers who came to the Salem Golf Club to enjoy an almost picture perfect day. With temps in the 70'sand a light cloud cover the golfers were treated to a wonderful lunch followed by a round of golf marred only by a brief shower and then a sumptuous meal. There were prizes galore and golfers went home happy and promising to be back next year. The success of the outing is directly attributable to Eric Newland, Golf Chair and his committee and the volunteers who gave of their time to assist on the event day. At last count the event raised about $24,000 for the Miracle League.

 

In May the League was invited to attend the annual charity day sponsored by BTIG in New York City. Principal partner and founder of BTIG Steven Starker  and his family have been supporters of the Miracle League since it's first season. Both of the Starker boys, Andrew and Brian, have demonstrated their commitment to the program both as buddies and also as the individuals who donated all of the presents for the children at last years holiday party. Executive Director Steve Madey attended the Charity Day along with Miracle League players Alexander Harasimowicz and William Monzon and their parents who charmed the likes of NY Yankee Nick Swisher, former NY Knick Alan Houston, Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, Actors Michael J. Fox and Matt Dillon to name a few. BTIG 's Charity Day supports many not for profit agencies by donating the commissions from their brokers on that day and in the past few years have donated millions of dollars to groups such as Jacob's Cure (named for Miracle League player Jacob Sontag and founded by his mother Jordana Holovach), Autism Speaks and others. The importance of these contributions especially in these tough economic times is evidence of the generosity of the Starker family. This year the Miracle League of Westchester received a check for $10,000 to help offset it's costs. Thank you to all of the Starker family and to BTIG for their generosity.

 

This past season the Miracle League forged a relationship with the Armonk Baseball League. Originally contacted by Fred Schwam, ABL board member,  about volunteer opportunities the Armonk Baseball League embraced our program by honoring us at their opening day and then later at their own fund-raising dinner held at the Mt. Kisco Country Club where both IBM and the Miracle League received recognition for their work for and with the youth of Westchester. An added bonus was a check for $5000.00 received from the NY Yankee and 2010 All-Star Robinson Cano Foundation that was presented at the dinner.  Our thanks go out to his agent and to Robinson for recognizing our efforts. Robinsons name can now be added to a growing list of Major League Ball clubs and players across the country who have contributed to continuing the mission of the Miracle League in giving everyone an opportunity to enjoy the game of baseball.

 

Finally, special recognition goes out to two young men, Adam Hackel who for the past two years has sponsored and coached  one of our teams and to Jordan Brown who auctioned off a prized Robinson Cano autographed baseball at a recent event for the Tarrytown Little League and raised $275.00 for the Miracle League.

 

Thanks go out to all of our volunteers who give of their time selflessly each weekend and to the parents who recognize the value of the program by bringing their children down each weekend and, most of all to the members of the board who help to make the program run.