5-27-2022 4:33am

COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION HITS

Let's Play Ball, BCPS!

Weatherwise the sun might have not been shining brightly but a few clouds and a little drizzle didn’t prevent the foundation’s Inaugural Let’s Play Ball! event from happening on May 14, 2022, at the campus of BCPS George Washington Carver Center for Arts & Technology. The family focused/community focused event was hosted by The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc. in partnership with The Baseball Warehouse, the League of Dreams and supported by the Ed Reed Foundation. It was the culminating activity for BCPS Administrators Week that began on Monday, May 9 through Friday, May 13, 2022. Multiple homeruns were scored throughout the week and on the 14th as individuals and teams were celebrated and recognized.

With gates opening at 11:30 a.m., the Ricky Wise Trio greeted spectators with live music and nineteen vendor village participants distributing all sorts of souvenirs and information to those stopping by, including game day pennants, yo-yos, jump ropes, frisbees and 1,000’s and 1,000’s and 1,000’s of new books furnished through a partnership with Feed the Children. Face painters and balloon twisters brought smiles to children’s faces and the Oriole Bird, Ravens Poe, and Marshall the Fire House Dog provided many a sibling and family photo opportunity. The BCPS Parent Mobile was on site distributing information to families along with five food trucks that included a variety of cuisines, one being delicious ice cream desserts.

Spectators cheering for their favorite BCPS Allied Sports athletes began at 12:00 noon with an opening ceremony, followed by a sanctioned skills clinic hosted in partnership with the League of Dreams, Frank Kolarek, President and Founder and Mike Bordick, Chairman of the Board. Nearly one hundred athletes and their coaches from sixteen BCPS middle schools from across the district participated in a variety of athletic stations developing lifelong values and skills.

BCPS ALLIED SPORTS

The participating BCPS Allied Sports teams were:

Ridgely Middle School - Coach Matt Golden
Middle River Middle School - Coach Mitch Burrows
Hereford Middle School - Coach Kristine Rahn / Wendy Schanberger
Golden Ring Middle School- Coach Lisa McCrey
Cockeysville MS - Coach Brendan Coleman
Loch Raven Technical Academy - Coach Sarah Long
Catonsville Middle School - Coach Nick Ramey
Southwest Acad. - Coach Carrie Matuszak
Arbutus Middle School - Coach Dan Ream
Northwest Academy - Coach Margaret Madgar
General John Stricker Middle School - Coach Kelly McGinty
Perry Hall Middle School - Coach Laura Thurston
Sudbrook Middle SchoolS - Coach Monica Brumagin

EXTENDING GRATITUDE

Extending gratitude to Brad Kressman, Resource Teacher, BCPS Allied Sports Program for his collaboration with League of Dreams organizing the middle school team athletes and the logistics for travel and to Mike Sye, Coordinator of the Office of Athletics for his leadership.

Leading the spectators in cheers, with pom-poms in hand, the Dulaney High School Cheerleaders cheered throughout the closing ceremony as each athlete was presented a gold medal by Dr. Darryl L. Williams, BCPS Superintendent, Julie Henn, Chair Board of Education, Christian Thomas, Student Member of the Board of Education, Deborah Phelps, Executive Director of the EDFoundation and baseball legend, Mike Bordick.

Moving from the football field to the softball diamond, the cheering continued for all the hard-working educators and administrators from across the BCPS District representing the East, Central, and West Zones who registered to play in the softball game hosted in partnership with The Baseball Warehouse Matt Morris, Owner and James Wiercinski, General Manager. The Education Champion outfield and dugout sponsorship banners lined the fences and spectators set up their chairs and blankets for a fun but slightly competitive game of softball between, Team BCPS Administrators vs. Team BCPS Educators. The pitcher’s mound filled with dignitaries and the 1st base and 3rd base lines filled with athletes and coaches, opening ceremony included greetings and announcements, the singing of the national anthem by Ms. Brooke Lutwin, student at Pikesville High School and then the ceremonial triple pitch by Dr. Darryl L. Williams, BCPS Superintendent, Rayner Banks, the Negro Baseball League and Mick Rayburn, President of the EDFoundation and a VP at The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, the Let’s Play Ball! Gold Level MVP Champion of Education.

As umpires, Larry Silverman, Marc Komins, and Larry Williams shouted, “Play Ball,” Jim Duquette, All-American baseball general manager and co-host of “Power Alley” and Jeremy Conn, Baltimore sports leader on 105.7 “The Fan” cranked up the music for the Team BCPS Administrators to take the field as the Team BCPS Educators stepped up to bat.

THE BALL GAME

It was a competitive game with balls hit, balls caught, athletes striking out and runs being scored and batted in. With two impressive team line-ups, coached by MLB Legends, the game ended after nine innings with a score of; Administrators 18 – Educators 16. The inaugural Let’s Play Ball! Championship team and individual trophies awarded to Team BCPS Administrators. Team BCPS Educators didn’t go home empty-handed as they each received an inaugural Let’s Play Ball medal.

Team BCPS Administrators and Educators (Alphabetical Order by Last Name)

John Ayres III, Ridgely Middle School
Mike Banach, Pikesville High School
Brian Bandurchin, Dundalk Middle School
Matthew Bayne, Victory Villa Elementary School
Nancy Bajevich, Patapsco HS
Justin Benjamin, Cockeysville Middle School
Tom Blumenauer, Owings Mills High School
Debbie Brajevich, Southwest Academy
Seth Brinegar, Patapsco High
Nik Buckler, Office of Logistics
Mitchell Burrows, Middle River Middle School
Adam Carney, Cockeysville Middle School
Claire Compton, Parkville High School
Andrew Corbett Jr, Logan Elementary School
Jim Corns, DOIT
Robert Covert, Hereford High School
Gabrielda Graca, Office of Purchasing
Wesley Daughton, Office of Logistics
Paul Diem, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology
Derek Dodson, Pikesville Middle School
Erich Geckle, Towson High School
Sharon Grimes, Virtual Learning Program
Joseph Holland, Loch Raven High School
Desia Jones, Patapsco High School
Joseph Karbowniczek, George Washington Carver Center for Arts & Technology
Lindsay Karsos, Towson High School
Liz Krupa, Deep Creek Middle School
John Lanahan, Mars Estates Elementary School
Darlene Leddon, Padonia International Elementary School
Joseph Madigan, Owings Mills High School
Samantha Maile, Lyons Mill Elementary School
Linda Marchineck Macleod, Lyons Mill Elementary School
James Martin, New Town High School
Lisa Martin, Owings Mills High School
Tyshawn McGee, Hebbville Elementary School
Boris McLaughlin, Randallstown High School
Tom Melito, Office of Science Pre K-12
Becky Miskimon, Halethorpe Elementary School
Molly Muller, New Town High School
Sam Mustipher, Department of Schools
Stephen Parsons, Hereford Middle School
Carl Peitz, Owings Mills High School
Brendan Penn, Woodmoor Elementary School
Maddie Phillips, Stemmers Run Middle School
Daniel Pizzo, Padonia International Elementary

Team BCPS Administrators coached by: Mike Bordick, 14-year MLB career, MLB All-Star and Orioles Hall of Famer

Team BCPS Educators coached by: Al Bumbry, 14-year career, Rookie of the Year Winner 1973, All-Star 1980, World Series Champion 1983, and Orioles Hall of Famer

From the congratulatory handshake, high 5’s and memorable team and candid phots captured the athletes boarded the player buses with their families filled with camaraderie and memorable moments. Folding their blankets and gathering the many souvenirs received spectators walked to their cars, driving away. It was a day where individuals and teams were recognized, celebrated and gratitude was extended. With GWCC campus fairly empty with only some volunteers remaining it was time to clean up and it wasn’t until then, during clean up time that the rains came, and it literally came in buckets but it was OK because the day was filled with many, many homeruns.

GENEROUS VOLUNTEERS MADE THE DAY

Running here, running there, doing this, and doing that -- the Let’s Play Ball! volunteers were decked out in their red and white baseball shirts and hats on game day prepared to do what they love to do the most . . . give their time, talent, and service to a cause they embrace. The occasion, on May 14, 2022, was the Let’s Play Ball! event hosted by The Education Foundation of BCPS in partnership with The Baseball Warehouse and League of Dreams and supported by the Ed Reed Foundation. The volunteers who speckled George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology’s campus believe in and are vested in public education in Baltimore County.

Volunteers were decked out in their red and white baseball shirts and hats on game day prepared to do what they love to do the most . . . give their time, talent, and service to a cause they embrace.

As you walked throughout Vendor Village, you could find nonprofit organizations such as the Ed Reed Foundation, The Baseball Warehouse, League of Dreams, Leveling the Playing Field, Bailey’s Heart and Soul Foundation, Point the Thumb Foundation, the Negro Baseball League, and The Education Foundation of BCPS. Each organization sharing information pertaining to their mission-driven work and their passion. Alongside the many nonprofit tables were several BCPS and Maryland State Department of Education offices providing information regarding topics such as staffing and allied sports.

As one wandered to the football field and baseball/softball diamond, volunteers were supporting middle school athletes, educators, and administrators; umpiring the game; awarding medals, calling the game from the Homerun Zone, keeping score, and playing some favorite tunes as athletes participated in games. Mascots such as The Oriole Bird, Ravens Poe, and Marshall the Firehouse Dog kept the spirit lively with the Dulaney High School cheerleaders and many spectators waving their Let’s Play Ball! pennants and cheering for their favorite athletes or team.

Tents and tables were set up and tents and table were broken down. Parking lot attendants greeted spectators with a smile and directed traffic. Grounds were kept clean. Signs were hung to celebrate and recognize. Buses transported. Swag bags were filled and distributed as Education Champions and VIPs entered to participate in the day’s festivities. Books were distributed and boxes unpacked and broken down.

To our volunteers – We can’t thank you enough for being who you are. You are simply magical, awesome, and out of this world, and we couldn’t have done it without YOU! THANK YOU!

LET'S PLAY BALL! GAME DAY VOLUNTEERS

Courtney Aburn
Antonio Adams
Linda Alpin
Steve Alpin
Jamie Bakert
Rayner Banks
Lisa Billings
Sallie Brehm
Robert Briggs
Kim Bettencourt
Mike Bordick
Kaitlin Brennan
Al Bumbry
Brenda Chamberlin
Christie Compeau
Mike Conaway
Jeremy Conn
Amanda Cotton
Josh Cordell
Becky Crowther
Darrell Cuthrell
Jim Duquette
Marian Durkin
Alexander Eldridge
Hilary Eldridge
Jim Farmer
Alicia Freeman
Mike Gallaway
Wayne Gilreath
Jonathan Goetz
Susan Goodhand
Bill Goodhand
Bob Grannas
Karen Grannas
Larry Grannas
Sue Hahn
Joe Harsel
Kristin Huber
Jodi Hume
Kaja Hume
Paul Hume
Cindy Jones
Anisa Kalil
Abgail Karey
Caitlin Kirby
Brad Kressman
Paige Koermer
Frank Kolarek
Mark Komins
Kelza Least
Brooke Lutwin
Lene McCollum
Brent McDermott
Victor Medina
Amy Mitchell
Scott Moir
Joe Mondell
Janisha Montgomery
Al Morgan
Matt Morris
Amanda O'Connor
Judy Phillips
Phil Phillips
Mick Rayburn
Gordan Ross
Brandon Sak
Jordan Salkied
Michael Shearer
Larry Silverman
Irene Sitoski
Cheksha Smith
James Smith
Kelly Spangler
Christian Thomas
Ryan Twenty
Kris Volz
Luke Weierbach
James Wiercinski
Andrew Will
Larry Williams
Heather Wooldridge
Brandon Wright
Glenn Younes

The Education Foundation of BCPS Board of Directors, Executive (Leadership) Committee, and the headquarters staff extends gratitude to the following individuals and offices who provided their expertise and support.

LET'S PLAY BALL! EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD VOLUNTEERS

Baltimore County Police Department
BCPS-TV
Media Star Promotions, Carin and Brian Lazarus and team
Elizabeth Becker, Director, BCPS Office of Facilities Operations
Chris Blasetti, Manager, BCPS Office of Grounds
Aaron Brooks, Shop Supervisor, BCPS Office of Logistics
Gloria DeFontes, Manager, BCPS Office of Facilities Operations
Wes Daughton, Transportation Operations Supervisor, BCPS Office of Logistics
Jennifer Drury, Supervisor, BCPS Office of Copy and Print
Dr. Jess Grim, Director, BCPS Office of Transportation
Brian Hiles, Specialist Design and Digital Media, BCPS
April Lewis, Executive Director, BCPS School Safety and Security
Sam Lister, Communications Specialist I, BCPS
Gboyinde Onijala, Director of Communications, BCPS
Chris Roberts, Director, BCPS Office of Facilities Support Services
Nick Russell, Sr. Operations Supervisor, BCPS Office of Facilities Operations
Erin Seabolt, Sr. Executive Assistant
Diana Spencer, Communications Officer, BCPS
Karen Steele, Principal, George Washington Carver Center for Arts & Technology
Janet Teter, Supervisor, Sr. Operations/Transportation
Bill Wingerd, Manager, BCPS Office of Logistics
Dr. Michael Zarchin, BCPS Chief of Schools

Each of those listed above – and anyone who we might have missed naming in error, you each put a capital "V” in the word Volunteers. You hit multiple homeruns, and, again, we thank you!