8th Annual Baseball Challenge
Sunday July 24th, 2011 10:00AM - 4:00PM
Wilburton Hill Park, Bellevue WA
For the benefit of:
The 7th Year - 2010
While the fund-raising was down again largely due to the economy, the event continued to be successful with
over $13,000 raised (and counting). Two great new partner charities were brought on board and 4 teams were formed. The event was scheduled
to take place on side-by-side fields at Wilburton Hill Park in Bellevue with a double-header for each team. Rain again forced
a change of plans and the event was pushed back a week and only two teams were formed, The White Team and The Blue Team.
The games were well played and the result was a split. Many new players participated, many of them very good, young players, and
hopefully the event can continue to be infused with their skill and enthusiasm. Unfortunately the rain meant that former Mariners Dan Wilson,
Brian Holman and Dave Henderson could not attend, but Roy Thomas once again could attend and dispense quick-witted
justice in Kangaroo Court.
One cool result of the change in format is that the uniforms we wore in the game were laundered and taken by I Love Baseball and distributed
to their players in the Dominican Republic! They even sent us a picture. The impact of our efforts can be seen in the smiles of the players!
The 6th Year - 2009
Last year was the most difficult year for the Baseball Challenge in the history of the event. Plans to expand the game
to include 4 teams did not fully materialize. The tough economy resulted in belt tightening and our fund-raising number was down to $9,000.
That said, the 6 year total of the event is still approximately $110,000 raised AND we got to play a double-header with a hotdog BBQ between games.
Former Mariner Roy Thomas once again returned to coach (Team Ronald McDonald House this year) and he regaled all with tales of Major League Baseball
as well as a masterful performance as Chief Justice at the break during "Kangaroo Court."
The teams were very evenly matched with the result being a split. Cocoon House took the 1st game while Ronald McDonald House took the second game.
Everyone enthusiastically agreed a special tie-breaker was in order. Each team would start the extra-inning with a runner on 2nd base
and each batter would start with a full count. Talk about pressure on the pitcher! The pitchers were Bruce Morrison for RMHC and his son
Brett for CH. In a case of the master still exceeding the student, Bruce led RMHC to the victory in the "overtime."
The 5th Year - 2008
Like last year, it was another year of firsts. For the first time we did not play at Everett Memorial Stadium.
This was brought about due to a postponement from July to September when Everett Memorial was undergoing post-season maintenance. After
one rainout at Lee Johnson Field/Peter Kirk Park in Kirkland, we secured Cheney Stadium in Tacoma for the game. We had great weather and
a great stadium for a fun 9 innings but it ended up as the biggest blowout in the short history of the event 14-2 in favor of RMHC.
That evens the series at 2-2. Due to the many changes in the game date, many players were not able to play and that was unfortunate. Also
due to the rainout in September, Julio Cruz could not attend the reschedule because he had to actually do the Spanish language broadcast for the Mariners.
Fund-raising was down but we have raised almost $12,000 to date and are still hoping to get to $15,000. Rob Jensen again led all fund-raisers
with a whopping $3,800 and took home his 3rd consecutive MVP award bat.
The 4th Year - 2007
This year turned out to be a different year in many respects. First it was the unexpected July rain
that forced postponement of the game until September. Then it was Ronald McDonald House finally prevailing in the game.
It was a close battle for a while but Team RMHC exploded in the 5th inning to break open a 3-2 game.
Cocoon House tried to rally but fell well short in the end with RMHC winning 14-9. This was the 1st win in 3 tries for Team RMHC (though no one really cares).
For the 4th straight year, over $20,000 was raised ($23,000+ to be exact). Rob Jensen earned MVP honors by raising over $3,500 dollars! Wow!
Mariner greats Julio Cruz and Dave Henderson handled coaching duties for Team Cocoon House and Team Ronald McDonald House, respectively.
Hendu saved the day by filling in at the last minute for Bill Krueger and Norm Charleton who both had last minute business issues.
In fact, Norm had to leave Seattle quickly to go scout pitchers for potential Mariner trades!
The 3rd Year - 2006
The 2006 event followed the same format as in 2005 with Team RMHC vs. Team CH.
Once again Bill Krueger returned and along with former Mariner Roy Thomas, managed Team Ronald McDonald House.
Former Mariner player and coach John Moses came on board to manage Team Cocoon House.
Tom Evans Krause returned to do another great job as announcer even while playing in the game filling a Team Cocoon House roster vacancy.
The event achieved it's highest fund-raising total to date exceeding $22,000.
Rob Jensen was named MVP of the Baseball Challenge in leading all fund raisers in collecting over $2,000.
Team Cocoon House again prevailed in the game 11-5 but Team Ronald McDonald House and 3rd year manager
Bill Krueger will be seeking revenge in 2007.
The 2nd Year - 2005
In 2005 the event was changed slightly. It was expanded to include players other than
Microsoft employees. Teams were formed representing each charity. Two former Mariners,
Bill Krueger and Brian Holman, agreed to serve as coaches for each team. Local sports "Superfan"
Lorin "Big Lo" Sandretzky and Tom Krause served as commentators. Once again, over $20,000 was
raised as Cocoon House edged Ronald McDonald House 12-9.
The 1st Year - 2004
The Baseball Challenge started in 2004 as the brainchild of a
few Microsoft employees who wanted to organize a baseball event similar to the hugely
successful Hockey Challenge which benefitted Ronald McDonald House.
The format of playing a game at Everett Memorial Stadium was conceived in
conjunction with the Everett AquaSox. Because the game was going to be played
in Everett it seemed natural to have an Everett-based charity involved in addition to Ronald McDonald House and Cocoon House
was a perfect fit. Players were recruited and two teams, the Hard Drives
and the Explorers, were formed. The event was a success with over $20,000 being raised as the Explorers
topped the Hard Drives 9-8.
Back to home page
More Information:
Donate to Ronald McDonald House
Donate to Cocoon House
Donate to ILoveBaseball.org
Donate to the Kirkland Boys and Girls Club
Biographies of former Mariners
History of the Baseball Challenge
Sponsor Information:
CarToys
Seattle Mariners Fantasy Baseball Camp
Mark Gardiner Photography
© 2011 The Baseball Challenge