Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

Tonight, Buffalo Grove Days kicks off with a softball game for charity.  Members of the Buffalo Grove Area Chamber of Commerce and our very own village employees and elected officials are randomly placed on two teams to mix it up.  This means your local butcher and firefighter could be playing against a member of our public works team and your accountant.  Why do they do this?  They play to raise money for the Buffalo Grove Chaplaincy Program.  Through this program, chaplains aid the Buffalo Grove Police and Fire Officers and the citizens of Buffalo Grove by providing counseling and comfort in times of crises. Donations are made by the Friends of the Parks Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce.

Preceding the start of the game, Boy Scout Troop #100, which is chartered by the Buffalo Grove Rotary, will make a Presentation of Colors.  Then, the annual game will start with a ceremonial first pitch by one of our local chaplains.  Umpires are Fire Chief Terry Vavra and Retired Police Chief Steve Balinski.  Knowing both of them, I’m sure the game is played strictly by the book.  Due to an uncanny number of injuries last year, the game will be changed to mush ball, a much gentler version of the game.

After the game, an awards dinner is sponsored by Lou Malnati’s.  At that time, donation checks are presented to the Chaplaincy Program.  Most Valuable Players Awards are presented to the best male and best female players.

Several local businesses pitch in to make this game a success.  Player caps are donated by Culver’s of Buffalo Grove.  T-shirts for the players are given by Buffalo Grove Bank and Trust. Water bottles are supplied by the Wheeling Auto Center.

So, if you’re looking for something fun to do tonight, head on over to Emmerich Park on Lake Cook Road.

I’ll post the daily schedule for all Buffalo Grove Days events here on my blog starting tomorrow and will continue every day throughout the fest.   You can also check our official website, www.bgdays.com, for more information.