Buddy Baseball Newsletter
Summer 2020
Hello Buddy Baseball Fans, 
   
Congratulations to all of the Buddies and Players who graduated high school in May. All the best to you in the future. We will be spotlighting some of them on Facebook over the summer. If you would like to be featured, click on this link to email us. Senior Spotlight
 
Thanks to attorney Elizabeth Allen for her virtual presentation on Special Needs Planning, Trusts, Social Security Basics, Medicaid and ABLE accounts. Click on this link to view this informative presentation. 
 
Every year, Buddy Baseball has a float in the Temple Terrace 4th of July parade. Unfortunately, due to concerns surrounding the spread of Coronavirus , the city has cancelled the parade and fireworks.
 
Registration for our Fall season will open later this summer. We will send out a notification when registration is open. Mark your calendars for the season dates. 9/26/2020 - 11/7/2020. The Meet and Greet will be on Saturday 9/19/2020.
 
Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there. Enjoy your day! Check out the "Dad Joke" at the end of this newsletter.
 
 
Russ Oberbroeckling
Executive Director


Player Spotlight
Alex Henning
Alex Henning
Alex will turn 22 this month and just graduated from Lopez Exceptional Center where he was named Prom King. He has played every season of Buddy Baseball except the very first season. (21 Seasons!) Alex has two cats named Huey and Millie. He has an older brother named Austin. He loves music and playing silly games. His special talent is making people smile. Alex's favorite part of Buddy Baseball is running the bases. The faster the better.
Buddy Spotlight
Zoe Hayden O'Brien
Zoe Hayden O'Brien
Zoe is 12 years old and attends Stewart Middle Magnet NASA Explorer School. This past year she was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society and The John Glenn Top Gun Academy. Her most prized possession is her collection of drawings and books. Zoe's favorite food is grilled cheese and her favorite restaurant is Bob Evans. She likes playing Buddy Baseball because "I like being with my friends and helping everyone have fun."
Rookie Spotlight
Christian Swanson
Christian Swanson
Christian is eight years old and attends Core Elementary. He has a younger brother and sister and two dogs. Christian's favorite thing for breakfast is Froot Loops. If he had $1000 he would buy train tracks. When he grows up, he wants to be a fireman. Christian's favorite things about Buddy Baseball is that he gets to play baseball with his friends and hit home runs! His Mom said, "We love Buddy baseball because it gives Christian a chance to play a sport he loves in an inclusive and accepting environment. He can be himself while doing something he loves."
C oach Spotlight 
Kristine Lee
Kristine Lee
Kristine is originally from Tampa and got involved with Buddy Baseball in high school when her dad (Patrick) was one of the coaches for the Sharks. After leaving for college and a year in a different state, she moved back to Tampa. As soon as Kristine got back, she knew that she wanted to coach a team for Buddy Baseball! Kristine has coached the Scorpions for three seasons and, "I love every second of it!" "My favorite memory is watching the kids have the time of their lives after they hit a home run! I also love that my Dad's players join my team as they age into the older group!"
 
Kristine is the Director of Walk to End Alzheimer's in Tampa. She loves hanging out with her family, friends and two dogs, Tyson and Remington! 
Parent Spotlight 
Sheila Robles and Andres Reyes
Sheila Robles and Andres Reyes 
Sheila and Andres have been married for 22 years and they have two kids, Andrea and Andres. They are from Puerto Rico and they moved to Tampa in 2009 looking for better medical care for their son, Andres. Andres has played more than 19 seasons of Buddy Baseball. They like the beach, riding motorcycles and watching movies. They are pet lovers, they have a beagle named Dakota, Randy is a rescue cat and Ricky is a kitten. Andres works for Medicare as customer care agent and Sheila is a stay at home mom. For vacation they like to visit Puerto Rico, share with their family and eat their favorite food.
 
"Because of Buddy Baseball we have created great friendships with buddies, parents and a lot of wonderful people. I never will forget how my son started making jokes and riddles before batting from a very young age." Every time he comes to bat, he has a different joke or riddle. I don't know how he remembers them all!
Volunteer Spotlight
Milt Orkin
Milt Orkin
Milt is one of our game day volunteers who shows up early on game days to set up the fields. He is a native of Long Island, NY. Milt went to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA.  He literally lived in Mr. Rogers Neighborhood in Pittsburgh which was near the CMU campus.  Milt was a professional musician in Pittsburgh, playing the trombone and baritone horn with River City Brass, Pittsburgh's outstanding 28 member Brass Orchestra, which toured all over the US and internationally.  He has performed in both Carnegie Hall and The Sydney Opera House.  After 25 years in Pittsburgh, he moved to Tampa. He now works as a booking agent and artist manager for Producers Incorporated, a national entertainment agency based in Temple Terrace.  

Milt is the current President of Congregation Beth Am, who partner with Buddy Baseball for the annual 5K Buddy Run fundraiser each November. He loves watching the kids and their buddies playing baseball and having such a great time.  He also really loves hearing the game announcers and all the fun facts they have about each of the players and buddies.  One thing on his bucket list is to one day sing the National Anthem at a Buddy Baseball game. I think we can make that happen.
Sponsor Spotlight 
Sun Paints & Coatings
Sun Paints & Coatings has been serving customers in west and central Florida for the past thirty years. With seven store locations, they are proud dealers of Benjamin Moore and can help with just about any paint or coating project. 

Here is what they had to say about Buddy Baseball.
"We love the joy that Buddy Baseball brings to both the athletes and the league volunteers. It is amazing to see the athletes gain confidence, a sense of belonging and camaraderie with their teammates throughout each season. The energy and atmosphere of game days is second to none! We love Buddy Baseball!"

Amazon Smile
When shopping on-line, consider using Amazon Smile. A portion of 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.

Dad Joke
 
Why couldn't the bike stand up by itself? It was two tired.

Contact Us
(813) 416-5742
Until next time...   PLAY BALL!!

Russ Oberbroeckling
Executive Director
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