Enjoy President's Cup Semifinal Games Saturday

We're deep into the second annual President's Cup tournament, and it's down to the final four! The first weeks of my 2012 President's Cup tournament were a tremendous success, and it will continue Saturday afternoon with games at 12:00 p.m. (Digital Harbor vs. Gilman) and 3:30 p.m. (Archbishop Curley vs. Mount Saint Joseph) at The Johns Hopkins University (Corner of N. Charles Street and University Parkway).

No matter what the scores are, I've heard from dozens of players that this tournament is one of the highlights of their season. These kids all want to play good baseball, and they want to play on good fields. I want to see baseball played like it was when I was growing up, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, when family and friends came to watch the kids play and everybody watched the kids play the game we called America's Game.

Not only are the students enjoying the competition, but together, we're providing safe safe places for kids to play. New to this year’s event is Growing the Game, a major financial campaign to help provide Baltimore City youth with an opportunity to play on safe, well-maintained baseball fields. Already the campaign has raised more than $166,000, thanks in large part to a matching gift of $83,000 from Orioles’ Principal Owner and Managing Partner Peter Angelos.

All proceeds from this campaign will be used to help renovate and maintain city ball fields and to ensure that children have a safe place to play in their own neighborhoods. Council President Young is encouraging Baltimore residents and businesses to support Growing the Game by visiting baltimorepresidentscup.com/growing and contributing to the fund.

After Saturday's games, tournament play will conclude with the championship at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 21 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. For a complete schedule, visit baltimorepresidentscup.com/schedule. All games are free and open to the public.

I encourage you to help Growing the Game in any way you can, and to join us at all of the tournament games.