Hardball for Heroes a success at Palmer Field.
On Sunday, July 14th at Palmer Field in Middletown, Connecticut, the Greater Hartford Twilight Baseball League hosted four benefit games at an event dubbed Hardball for Heroes. A ceremonial first pitch was thrown from the pitcher’s mound by Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, Ken McClellan, a combat veteran of the Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In Game #1, the Vernon Orioles pulled off a comeback win over the East Hartford Jets by score of 7-6. Zach Donahue earned the complete game win for the O’s while the Halpin brothers, Jack and Ian stood out at the plate by bating home key RBI.
Game #2 featured the first place Record-Journal Expos and Tom Abbruzzese’s People’s United Bank club. Justin Morhardt held the Expos at bay with a strong performance on the mound. Though the Expos proved to be victorious with a score of 2-1 thanks to a complete game effort by A.J. Hendrickson a game-tying home run blasted by Kyle Hartenstein and a walk-off single by Hector Gonzalez.
The results of Game #3 were again decided by one run when Ulbrich Steel managed to tame Rainbow Graphics by a final of 3 to 2. Matt Goldman earned the complete game win for Steel but was touched by an Evan Chamberlain homer to left. Late in the contest, Pete Barrows narrowly crossed the plate after a Rainbow passed ball.
Game #4 witnessed a much improved Malloves Jewelers handling the South Windsor Phillies by a final score of 7-3. Marvin Gorgas drilled a home run off of Phillies starting pitcher Shane Bogli in the 3rd inning. Jared Pflaumer smacked two doubles in the contest and Malloves starter Johnny Martin earned the win.
The games were close, well-played and for a good cause. We were proud to support those men and women of the American Legion who have honorably served our nation. By the end of the day, $750 was raised for the American Legion Post 75. The GHTBL looks forward to hosting another Hardball for Heroes charity event once again in 2020.
For a full photo album from this event, CLICK HERE.