Gearing Up

Tony Cremer is stepping up to the plate, hoping to hit a home run for area youth in need of equipment to play baseball this spring.

Cremer, a father of four and the equipment manager for Woodlawn Little League, is coordinating the league’s baseball equipment exchange.

The exchange kicked off last Saturday, and will be held once again from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday, March 12 at the Woodlawn Little League Fields at 5321 Pole Road in Alexandria. The event is taking place during the League’s second weekend of skills assessments.

The equipment swap provides a chance for families to donate baseball equipment they no longer need — cleats, gloves, helmets, bats, clothing and more — to those needing it, at no charge.

Cremer said his idea of coordinating a baseball equipment exchange started after he noticed the excess amount of baseball pants, shirts and other types of equipment piled up in the league’s storage shed a few months ago. He knew he also had extra baseball equipment and clothing at home that his son Tyler has outgrown.

In trying to find a way to share the items that still have use, Cremer said, he went to the Woodlawn Little League Board of Directors with the idea of holding an exchange.

“We know we have some kids in our league who could really benefit from the overflow of baseball clothing and equipment we have found,” said Cremer, who has been coaching baseball for Woodlawn Little League for three years.

The goal, he said, is to encourage families to bring their children’s outgrown cleats, gloves, plates, bats and other baseball equipment to exchange with others, all free-of-charge.

“We put together the exchange program to hopefully get as much equipment to kids who could really use the help,” Cremer said. “We just want to make a difference in the lives of kids who have the passion, but not necessarily the equipment to play this great game. It’s a win-win for everybody involved.”

All leftover equipment, Cremer noted, will be donated as part of a larger little league exchange in association with Major League Baseball’s Baseball Tomorrow Fund, a non-profit organization promotes and enhances the growth of youth participation in baseball and softball throughout the world by funding programs, fields, coaches’ training, and the purchase of uniforms and equipment.

Editor's Note: In case of inclement weather, the rain date will be Saturday, March 19 from 3-5 p.m. Keep an eye on Patch for more information.