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Sports

Foxboro Youth Baseball, Softball Compete in the Battle at the Booth

The fundraiser for Foxboro Youth Baseball and Softball featured a 24-hour baseball game to raise money for the Booth complex.

 

In a sport that has a reputation of being a timeless game, there was one game in Foxborough that seemed to have no end.

The Foxborough Youth Baseball and Softball Association held the first "Battle at the Booth" Friday and Saturday to raise money for the program. Starting officially Friday evening at 7 p.m., the action didn’t stop until about 24 hours later and after many innings of play.

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The association came up with the idea late last year during a meeting to decide how the organization could improve on fundraising.

“We knew some of the other towns in the surrounding area have tried such a venture and we came up with this idea of a 24 hour baseball game,” Foxboro Director of Baseball Jeff Downs said,  “Just trying to get the kids out here and have some good times.”

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The money raised will go towards improving the fields at the Booth Playground and a new batting cage.

Every member of the softball and baseball youth programs was given a chance to play during the 24-hour game. When it was all over, 95-percent of the players were able to get on the field and play ball.

To help compensate for the lack of lights at the Booth fields, National Grid donated lights to help the kids get through the game in the middle of the night. Despite the late games, just the idea of staying up late was excitement enough for the participants.

“That was evident last night,” Downs said. “Probably from 2-5 a.m., you think they were going to be the toughest hours be we had a lot of people down here parents included. The kids were out here under the lights, having a good time.

To help raise money, each player was challenged to raise money for the game. Anyone who raised over $250 would be able to attend a pizza party with former Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra. While the kids involved in youth baseball and softball may be too young to remember Garciaparra in his prime with the Red Sox, his participation did excite many adults.

“It actually gets the parents more motivated because they know Nomar more," Downs said.  "Kids have gotten more accustomed to it hearing it from their parents. There was some excitement there.”

In addition to the game, there was also a dunk tank and obstacle course during the day. Fans and participants could also take part in raffles and silent auctions for such prizes as footballs autographed by the New England Patriots and gift baskets.

To add to the excitement, each division had their championship game on Saturday. To close out the event, the Orioles beat the Dodgers, 12-9, to win the Major Division title. The excitement will be short lived as a new season of summer baseball begins June 18.

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