The 21st Annual Challenger Baseball World Series (CBWS) will be held Saturday morning, June 15 at Frontier Field. Over 260 players representing squads from Fairport, Greece, Penfield, Pittsford, Westside, Webster, Victor, and the Finger Lakes (Geneva) are expected to participate.
Challenger Baseball, which began in the Rochester area in 1990 in conjunction with Fairport Baseball’s Little League program, brings together boys and girls ages 6 to 18 who are physically and/or mentally challenged. Each player is accompanied on the field by a “buddy” to assist in the execution of hitting, running the bases, and fielding activities.
The June 15 CBWS quadruple-header schedule calls for Frontier’s gates to open at 8 a.m. with Fairport vs. Greece at 8:30 a.m. Pittsford vs. Penfield at 9:30 a.m. and Webster Minor League vs. Westside at 10:30 a.m. At 11:15 a.m. Webster Major League will play the combined squads from Victor and the Finger Lakes. After all players have had a time at bat and an inning in the field, the teams will gather for a picnic lunch starting at 9:30 a.m. Admission to the CBWS and picnic lunch is free of charge for all team members, volunteers and fans.
Besides the Red Wings, corporate support for the 2013 CBWS is provided by The Hot Stove League, Eddie Meath Penny Fund, Rochester Coca-Cola Refreshments, Zweigle’s, Spinergy, Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, Fairport Rotary Club, MassMutual Financial Architects, Rochester Press-Radio Club, The Last Man Standing Club, Xerox and The Tony Wells Agency.
Pop Warner athletes recognized for academic standings
Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. national youth sports organization in America requires its participants to perform adequately in the class room before permitting them to play. Each year, the most academically accomplished Pop Warner athletes compete for Academic All-American status. This process begins at the association level and up through each of the eight Pop Warner regions to the national level. Yearly, over 400,000 kids participated in Pop Warner with more than 9,700 of those players qualifying for the All-American status.
The PWLS All-American Program requires a minimum 96 percent grade point average to apply for All-American status. After the applications have been processed, Pop Warner determines National First Team All-Americans, National Second Team All-Americans and National Honorable Mention Scholars.
Several Ogden Bears players were recogonized this year.
•James Caufield, 8th grade, Olympia Middle School, son of Joseph and Linda Caufield of Greece, Honorable Mention.
•Tyler Daly, 5th grade, Hill Elementary School, son of Scott and Kelly Daly of Brockport, Honorable Mention.
•Tyler Davies, 5th grade, Hill Elementary School, son of Brian and Shauna Davies of Brockport, Honorable Mention.
•Spenser Doty, 9th grade, Spencerport High School, son of Kim and Cory Doty of Spencerport, First Team.
•Tatum Faucher, 5th grade, Munn Elementary School, daughter of Brian and Jill Faucher of Spencerport, Honorable Mention.
•Jacob Hueber, 8th grade, Cosgrove Middle School, son of Carolyn and Gary Hueber of Spencerport, Second Team.
•Ryan Martin, 5th grade, Hill Elementary School, son of Kim and Chris Martin of Brockport, Second Team.
•Damien Mousso, 8th grade, Athena Middle School, son of Heidi Gifford, and Pete and Adrianna Mousso, Second Team.
According to Kim Doty, Little Scholars Chair for the Ogden Bears Pop Warner Football and Cheerleading League, there are 2,000 students eligible in the 8th grade and higher age bracket across the United States. Spenser Doty was one of only 35 football players and 35 cheerleaders to receive first team status. He was also the only student from all of New York State at any age level to receive this honor. As a result of his accomplishments, Spenser was invited to an awards’ banquet held in Boston and was awarded a $1,250 scholarship toward college.
