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DISTRICT EMPLOYEE THROWS FIRST PITCH
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(BRADENTON, FL - February 27, 2008) Someone once said any day at the ballpark is a good day, and that certainly proved to be the case when the Pittsburgh Pirates played the Manatee Community College Lancers at McKechnie Field in Bradenton on February 27, 2008. All of the proceeds from the game went to benefit Manatee County's public schools, in what has become the annual opening game of the Pittsburgh Pirates' spring training schedule. In all, more than $10,500 was raised and will be split between the Manatee Education Foundation and Wakeland Elementary. The Foundation helps fund important needs of the school system with the generous help of the private sector. Through their endeavors, the Foundation provides funding for college and technical scholarships and for innovative educational experiences through its Cash for Classroom Grant program. The Pirates have forged a special relationship with Wakeland Elementary, partly because the East Bradenton school is located directly across the street from the Pirates' minor league training facility. The Pirates work with Wakeland in a variety of ways throughout the school year. |
“This game puts money into our donations account which we use to do special things for our students and staff that we couldn't do otherwise,” said Wakeland Principal Chuck Fradley. “We use the funds for things like student incentives and for promoting and holding family reading, math and science nights and other special events.”
The pre-game festivities focused in on the Manatee School District when Tomas Carrillo, the district's School Support Employee of the Year, threw out the first pitch and the Show Choir from Lee Middle Magnet School sang the National Anthem. Carrillo, a Home School Migrant Liaison at McNeal Elementary, threw a fastball for a strike for the ceremonial first pitch, while the Lee Middle Show Choir wowed the crowd with their beautiful harmony, under the direction of music teacher Debbie Szalkowski. It turned out to be a big day for the school district, and the Pirates, who wound up besting the local Lancers 5-0.
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