Bats, balls, gloves and kids! There will be many great moments during the 2005 baseball season. From T-ball to Little League; from Babe Ruth to high school, America Legion and beyond. There is always exciting baseball happening throughout this region. However, I can’t help but think about all the players, teams and leagues that are less fortunate. I often watch as many, if not most, players purchase (actually have their parents purchase) new bats, gloves and other baseball equipment. I also watch many of the opposing teams share a bat with several players; trade gloves in the middle of a substitution, and borrow catcher’s gear between innings. Many of the children in our area are quite fortunate. My concern focuses on the children that wish to play baseball and are lacking the means. They may not be able to afford a bat or glove. Their teams or leagues may not have the money to continue to provide a good learning experience for their area’s youth. I would like to ask all of you this question: Do you have gloves, bats, spikes, baseballs, catcher’s equipment, or any other items that might benefit these individuals, teams or leagues? I am making an attempt to collect this equipment and find a new home for it. Has your child outgrown their spikes, or will they be using metal spikes in the future, and no longer need rubber spikes? Do they have a bat that is too small for them, or might they be using a large barrel bat in the future? Do you have gloves, or catcher’s equipment that will no longer be used? These are the basic needs. We are also looking for batting practice baseballs, pitching screens, complete sets of uniforms, batting tees, bat racks, batting bags, pitching machines, field lining equipment, rakes and any other baseball equipment you have to offer. This is the second season of this effort. We will need your donations to make this work. If you have any of the previously mentioned items, please call me at (609) 689-1033, or e-mail me at Pfuhrman@ AlloyMarketing.com. I will make every attempt to pick up this equipment. Of course, if you can deliver it, that would be greatly appreciated. I will deal with the storage issues, but as time goes on, I hope to need additional space. If you are part of a league, or know of a league or individual that can benefit from the equipment we collect, please let me know. Thank you in advance for thinking of others! Peter Fuhrman Hamilton Square