By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
The Cruiser old timers will take the field at the third annual Groveport Madison High School alumni baseball game.
The game will be played at the Groveport Madison High School varsity baseball field at 2 p.m. on April 24 (in case of rain the game will be played May 1). Admission is free. Proceeds from food sales and raffles at the game will go to the Groveport Madison baseball program.
This year, instead of the alumni team playing an exhibition doubleheader against the current varsity squad, two alumni teams will be pitted against each other in a single game.
“We switched the format to get the high school players more involved in the fund raising side so they can work for the money,” said game organizer Dylan Frank, a 2010 graduate of Groveport Madison. “Also, I would like the high school players to look forward to playing in the alumni game when they graduate. In future years I hope to evolve the game and make it a day tournament once I get enough participants.”
Frank said he plans to choose the rosters for the two alumni teams at random. He said he hopes to have 30 to 34 alumni players sign up to play. Last year the oldest alumni player graduated in the class of 1981.
“I’ll ask each alumnus which position they fee comfortable in and I will randomly select the teams so all positions will be filled,” said Frank.
Frank said the alumni baseball game fulfills a role in the community and the schools.
“This game is important to the Groveport Madison baseball program because it brings alumni, high school players, school employees, and the community together for a great cause to make our relationship stronger and, of course, to have fun.”
Fun is the operative word, according to Frank as he cited a story from a previous alumni game.
“There was a father/son combo the first year and they wanted to pitch to each other,” said Frank. “When his son was scoring the final run his father playfully ran up to his son and held him so he couldn’t score. Just to see that happiness made the game worth it.”
For information about the Cruiser alumni baseball game, call Frank at (614) 832-3645 or email Dylanfrank2010@gmail.com. Also, visit Facebook at Groveport Madison Alumni Baseball Game.
