Buddy Baseball February 2017 Newsletter

Hello Buddy Baseball Fans,

Opening Day is just a few days away! We had a full house for our Meet and Greet luncheon. Thanks to all of the volunteers who helped out.

This season we will award two Buddy Baseball scholarships. High school seniors who have played at least three seasons are eligble to apply for this $750 scholarship.

The Tampa Breakfast Sertoma Club will sponsor an Opening Day Cookout this Saturday, February 25th. They will serve hamburgers and hot dogs at the ball fields from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. If you have the later game, please come a little early for lunch.

As a reminder, please arrive at least 15 minutes before your game time. The schedule is on the website.

Russ Oberbroeckling

Executive Director

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Meet and Greet

We had well over 300 people attend our Meet and Greet on Saturday, February 18. Thanks to Caspers Company - McDonalds Restaurants, Lenny's Sub Shop on Fletcher Ave and Go Go Squeeze for their donations.

Player Spotlight - Jon Miller

Jon Miller

Jon will be 18 in March and attends Newsome High School. He has played in 15 of our 16 seasons! He has a golden retriever dog named Birdie. If Jon was famous it would be for winning the Super Bowl.

Buddy Spotlight - Peter Cevallos

Player Makai Walton - Buddy Peter Cevallos

Peter will be 17 next month and attends Jesuit High School. His favorite food is waffles, loves playing music and would like to meet Billy Joel. Makai and Peter have been paired together for a number of seasons.

Volunteer Spotlight

USF Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity

Thanks to the USF Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity for helping set up for the Meet and Greet. We really appreciate your help organizing the shirts and setting up tables and chairs for our luncheon.

Buddy Scholarship

Our Buddy Scholarship is available to graduating seniors who have played at least three seasons of Buddy Baseball. A n independent panel of judges will select our two winners. Each winner will receive a $750 scholarship.

Application deadline: Saturday, March 18th at 6:00 pm.

Click on the link to apply. Good Luck!

Spring 2017 Buddy Scholarship Application

Board of Directors

Buddy Baseball Board of Directors

Welcome Dennis Mueller and Barry Clements to the Buddy Baseball Board of Directors. Pictures left to right: Jim Carlstedt - Treasurer, Russ Oberbroeckling - Executive Director, Sherri Johnson, Phyllis Guthman, Jeanette Miller - Secretary, Barry Clements, Jay Fox and Dennis Mueller.

Where are they now?

Tori Emerick

Tori was a buddy on the Thunder for seven seasons, most of them with her pal Devon Goodman. She has enjoyed getting to see the team when she's been back for spring break.

Tori is in her second year at Cornell University, where she is double majoring in Animal Sciences and Entomology, with her goal to become a vet to zoo animals.

She is adjusting to the New York winters, taking advantage of skiing nearby. Tori has participated in Best Buddies and the Pre-Vet Society while at Cornell, and spends her summers back in Tampa working with animals at a local veterinarian's office and Lowry Park Zoo. Next Thanksgiving break, she is looking forward to an adventure to the Galapagos Islands with it's unique wildlife.

Sponsor Spotlight

Friends of Tampa Firefighters are brand new Grand Slam Sponsors. The primary purpose of Friends of Tampa Firefighters, Inc. is to raise funds which will be used to establish firefighter memorials, dedications and programs benefiting the Tampa Bay area.

Friends of Tampa Firefighters

Amazon Smile

Amazon Smile

When shopping on line. Consider using Amazon Smile. A portion of the the sale will be donated back to Buddy Baseball, no extra cost to you. Just use https://smile.amazon.com/ selecting Buddy Baseball as the organization that you are supporting the next time you are shopping on Amazon. Thanks.

Amazon Smile