NORTHBORO – A couple hours after the fourth annual A Shot For Life Baseball Home Run Derby saw a three-time participant finally take home the trophy for the first time, a newcomer stole the show in just the second ASFL Pitchers Challenge on Saturday at New England Baseball Complex.
By finishing in the top-three standings in each of the three skills challenges that the unique event offers, brand-new ASFL athlete Leo Lyons (Archbishop Williams) won the title to cap off a successful fundraising effort toward the cause.
His $1,100 contribution paired nicely alongside the rest of the $80,000-plus that ASFL Baseball and Softball fundraised, while also winning one skill challenge in a competition unlike any other. Especially for someone new to A Shot For Life.
“It was just awesome, the whole process,” Lyons said. “It’s such a welcoming environment. And then going up on the mound, there is a little bit of pressure, but it’s good pressure. It was just great. … I’ve never done any kind of event like this. I just came here, and was just like, ‘Hey, I’m here, I raised money for a good cause. Might as well just play baseball.’ ”
The three challenges were a nine-hole mini-game that tested hitting spots from the mound, a range-finder mini-game that tested long-distance accuracy, and a bowling challenge in which pitchers needed to knock down as many pins at the plate in the format of three bowling frames. Bowling pins were set up at the height of the strike zone on top of a box, but interestingly enough, is was what pitchers struggled with the most.
Having his organization run the fun, yet difficult and safe challenges, all while working together for a good cause, is something fulfilling for ASFL founder and CEO Mike Slonina.
“The most important thing for me is that our players can compete and also keep their arms safe,” he said. “Most of our players, their future is tied to their arm. So the fact that we were able to come up with a way that they compete, it can be fun, it can be challenging – but not in a way that was strenuous on the arm – was really special to us.”
Of the 16 pitchers to participate, Lyons was the only pitcher to finish in the top-three of all three challenges. Bridgewater-Raynham’s Jack Ritchie finished in second place as the only other pitcher to finish in the top-three in more than one challenge.
Lyons’ favorite was the nine-hole challenge, which he finished third in. His least favorite, ironically enough, was the bowling challenge he won. Milton’s Tommy Mitchell took the nine-hole title, while Milton Academy’s Matt Higgins won the range-finder challenge.
Aside from a newcomer winning the title and the event’s unique set of challenges, what put this year’s ASFL Pitchers Challenge over the top was a new level of engagement from the Red Sox Foundation. Slonina was thrilled to have the Red Sox logo on the ASFL jerseys this year, as well as having mascots Wally the Green Monster and Tessa come out to interact with the players during the day.
And of course, the work of the volunteers and help from ASFL athletes from other sports is something he is beyond grateful for.
“The volunteers are the lifeblood of A Shot For Life,” Slonina said. “I want to give a shoutout to all of our athletes, like Ryan Higgins – basketball athlete. Lily Gibbs – soccer athlete. They spent all day here, sweating in the sun. They’re still here (until the end), that’s what being a part of the ASFL is. We really appreciate them for that.”