Submitted by Rick Stockfield, Hudson Valley League Commissioner
We had our big charity fundraiser, a poker tournament back in
early June and formerly kicked off our 3 Up 3 Down non-profit where we gave
away $12,000 to youth leagues and charities that support those with
developmental disabilities at our July 28th All Star Game. We also
inducted Jim Petrosino, Steve Aurigemma and Barry Zehnbauer into our Hudson Valley MSBL Hall of
Fame.
The press release is shown below:
3 UP 3 DOWN ORGANIZATION
SUPPORTING YOUTH BASEBALL IN THE HUDSON
VALLEY
$11,500 IN GRANTS DONATED JULY 28 AT
DUTCHESS STADIUM DURING
HVMSBL ALL-STAR GAME
August 7,
2017 - Brewster, New York - The 3 Up 3 Down Organization (3U3D) put on the 2017
Hudson Valley Men’s Adult Baseball League All Star Game on Friday July 28, 2017
at Dutchess Stadium, Wappingers, New York as well as the presentation of $12,000
in local grants to six local baseball organizations and five local charities
including Green Chimneys, Anderson Center for Autism, Fragile X Research
Foundation, Zylophone and Julies Jungle.
The event was FREE to all in the community and the
Organization had free hot dogs, cotton candy and water for the 1,000 fans in
attendance. The first 100 kids received free
a wiffleball bat and ball set and kids that returned foul balls received free
fidget spinners. Vendors were present providing
discounted glove embroidery, free face painting for the kids, free yoghurt and
juices, and free bat demos (Axe Bats) as were other vendors/sponsors including ATT, Carmel Sports Club, BSN Sports, Hayes Fitness and Noosa Yoghurt. Preceding
the game was the league’s annual home run derby which was won by Marlboro
resident Steve Aurigemma.
The All-Star Game pitted the
Hudson Valley Men’s
Amateur League’s (HVMSBL) 18+ age division and its 35+ age division all
stars. Many of the top former high
school and college players now call the
HVMSBL home including local standouts
Zack Graczyk
(Carmel and SUNY Cortland star),
Jake Slate (former Arlington),
Clint Boettcher (SUNY New Paltz),
Marty Hand (Iona College, and
Steve Green (Boston College, Brewster High star). Honored on the evening was
Barry Zehnbauer (Wappingers),
Jim Petrosino (Ketchum), and
Steve Aurigemma (Marboro, Florida Atlantic), three of the most
prolific ball players in the Hudson Valley over the last 15-20 years. All three were inducted into the
HVMSBL Hall
of Fame.
Through its fundraising efforts this year, 3U3D can
offer up to six baseball grants annually to local leagues. The six recipients went through a qualifying
grant application process. 2017
recipients included the Town of Kent ($1,000), Beekman Athletic Club ($1,500), Town of Wappingers Little League ($1,000), East Fishkill Babe Ruth ($1,000), as
well as the Town of Poughkeepsie Babe Ruth ($1,000) and City of Poughkeepsie
Little League ($2,500).
ABOUT THE 3 UP 3 DOWN ORGANIZATION
The mission of the 3 Up 3 Down Organization is to
promote, strengthen, and foster youth baseball in and around the Greater New
York and Hudson Valley areas, as well as provide additional community support
for those with developmental disabilities. The Organization has a longer term
goal of building an inclusive park for those with and without
disabilities. Such a park will enhance
the health, physical fitness, wellness, independence, and an enhanced quality
of life through inclusive fitness programs, including recreation and sports
competition for people of all abilities and all ages, in community based, and
accessible multi-use park(s).
In its short existence, the non-profit has already put
on Major League Baseball’s Pitch, Hit & Run and Junior Home Run Derby for
ages 7-14-year-old boys and girls and established key partnerships with several
recreation departments and youth leagues to benefit from its donations.