NEW YORK — Nobody says no to former Major Leaguer CC Sabathia on the subject of giving again to the neighborhood, and Monday evening was no totally different when the third annual CC Sabathia and Friends Celebrity Softball Game befell at Yankee Stadium.
Former teammates comparable to Johnny Damon and Dellin Betances had been in attendance, whereas rapper Ja Rule, NBA participant Rudy Gay and teen Jalen Jeter Martin — Derek Jeter’s nephew — additionally took their hacks within the batter’s field.
“CC’s authenticity [is the reason people show up to this game],” stated broadcaster Ryan Ruocco. “He really doesn’t change no matter who is in the room, who he is in front of. He truly is himself for every audience and somebody who is passionate about giving back.”
According to Martin’s mom and Derek’s sister, Sharlee Jeter, Sabathia and his spouse, Amber, have trusting voices.
“I think they are good people. People want to support good people,” she stated.
As far as the sport went, Team Sabathia defeated Team Morgan — managed by comic Tracy Morgan — 5-0 in six innings. Sabathia’s crew did all its scoring within the backside of the third. Ruocco highlighted the scoring with an RBI single.
All proceeds from the occasion profit the PitCCh In Foundation and the New York Yankees Foundation. The PitCCh In Foundation, which began in 2008, hosts a number of initiatives all year long within the New York Tri-state space and Sabathia’s hometown of Vallejo, Calif., to complement the lives of inner-city youngsters via schooling and athletics. The New York Yankees Foundation is dedicated to dedicating assets to help, develop and implement initiatives that present space youth with entry to constructive instructional, leisure and social shops.
“It’s a lot of fun to use the stadium for our foundation,” Sabathia stated. “It started off by doing the basketball games at the Barclays Center. I wanted to switch it over and have something that everybody could participate in. We all thought softball would be good. The Yankees have been a great partner. The foundation has been awesome.”
Giving again to the neighborhood is nothing new to Sabathia. He has been serving to individuals in want relationship again to his days with Cleveland, the group that drafted him. He was impressed to assist due to former Major Leaguer Dave Stewart. When Sabathia was rising up in Vallejo, Stewart made an look on the Boys Club the place Sabathia was a member.
“I had a chance to meet Dave Stewart when I was 9 years old and it changed the way I saw athletes,” Sabathia stated. “I wanted to be visible in the community, not just on the field. That was a huge reason we started PitCCh In.”
A present participant who has adopted in Sabathia’s footsteps is Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge. He has the ALL RISE Foundation, which “inspires children and youth to become responsible citizens by engaging them in activities that encourage them to reach their unlimited possibilities.”
“It has paid off to see it with Judge and the different guys that love to give back because they see what we do,” Sabathia stated. “Dominic Smith does a lot of stuff. J.P. Crawford [does the same]. There are a lot of guys that help out in their communities.”
Content Source: www.mlb.com