38 JULY 2023 By Mark Hays Arcadia Little League (ALL) recently held its sixth annual Home Run Derby, an event that allows players a chance in the spotlight to show off their baseball skills in a fun and exciting tournament. This year’s emcee was newscaster Mark McClune and DJ Dangerous also entertained with live music and lots of cheers. ALL President Cheri Pierce explained that the Major League Baseball Association encourages home run derbies in youth leagues throughout America. The final event in the ALL regular season, this year’s home run derby was open to 11- and 12-year-old players. Of the 120 who participated in the 2023 league, 45 came out to try their luck. At the derby, players attempt to hit as many pitches as possible over a 175-foot fence within the time limit. “Each player is given 90 seconds to hit home runs,” Pierce explained. “We took the top hitter, and they advanced to another 90-second round. Our winner this year was Carter Lampe with 21 home runs, an impressive display,” said Pierce. Carter hit 15 in the first round. In the first 30 seconds of the second round, he hit six more, securing him the top spot. As the game got closer, the atmosphere among spectators and players was electric. According to Pierce, after Carter tied the leader – player Gunner Brown – at 19 home runs, the crowd erupted. Through all the excitement, Carter maintained his calm. “I don’t know how he was able to concentrate enough to hit two more,” Pierce said. “Once he hit the last ball, he couldn’t contain himself. He tossed his bat and took a well-deserved trot around the bases.” Carter was awarded a trophy for the ALL 2023 Home Run Derby by last year’s winner, Blake Hermes. In addition to that, his name was carved on the league trophy along with past winners. The season continued as many ALL teams headed to the championship games. Team Wachinski won the boy’s 9-10 Minors Championship, and Team Piazza won the 11-12 Majors Championship. Team Crossley won the 9-10 Minors in softball, and Team Allred won the 11-12 Majors Championship. “As a coach, it is bittersweet when the season ends. You see so much growth in these young athletes from the first practice to the championship game. Baseball and softball are not about ‘swinging the bat so it hits the ball,’ even though I laugh when parents chant that from the stands. If it were that easy, we would all be major leaguers,” Pierce said. “The best part of the game is when the winning home run is hit, and all the kids run onto the field and chase the winner around the bases,” Coach Andrew Wachinski said. After the season ended in May, 64 athletes were chosen to join the All-Star teams. The District 6 baseball tournaments took place from June 12-25, where three baseball teams competed, and the winner represented D6 at the state level. Arcadia’s two softball teams advanced directly to State Tournaments to represent D6. “Baseball and softball mean having the confidence to make mistakes and learn from them. It means showing up for your team because you signed up and committed to them and yourself. It is cheering on your friends from the other dugout when they have succeeded, even if you lost the game,” Pierce said. “If my players can take one thing away from their time at ALL, I hope it would be that they had fun, made friends and – oh yeah – we played ball!” arcadialittleleague.com Arcadia Little League hosts 2023 Home Run Derby Arcadia Little League’s Home Run Derby finalists: Carter Lampe, Ollie Bandura, Anthony Longo, Cody Dreier, Dylan Hakak, Gunner Brown, Colt Dreier, Ollie Ord, Jake Swenson. Not pictured: Chase Lauer. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHERI PIERCE By Mark Hays The school year is on the horizon, and local businesses and nonprofits are organizing supply drives to ensure everyone has the resources they need for a successful academic year. Check out some local drives below: ARIZONA HELPING HANDS azhelpinghands.org When: July 13-August 4 Where: At participating Banner Physical Therapy and Copper State Credit Union locations: 2222 E. Highland Ave., 2830 N. 42nd St. and 1640 W. Thomas Road. Donations are welcome through Amazon Wishlist. Needs: Headphones, pens, highlighters, crayons, backpacks, pocket folders, glue, scissors, staplers and more. BACKPACKS 4 KIDS bp4kidsaz.com When: Through July 24 Where: 6819 N. 21st Ave., Phoenix, Tuesdays from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and Wednesdays 6-7:30 p.m. Donors can also schedule a pickup. Needs: Backpacks, pink erasers, pencil pouches and No. 2 pencils, highlighters, pencil sharpeners, crayons, colored pencils, folders, glue sticks, spiral notebooks, 1.5-inch binders. BOYS HOPE, GIRLS HOPE bhghaz.org When: Through July 28 Where: 3443 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, or through Amazon Wishlist. They also can arrange to have a box sent to your workplace to collect donations. Needs: 5-subject notebooks and composition books, 1- and 2-inch binders, dividers, mechanical pencils, leads, college ruled and graph paper, index cards, sticky notes, dry erase markers. NEW PATHWAYS FOR YOUTH npfy.org When: Through July 31 Where: 901 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix, or through their Target registry. Needs: NPY’s back-to-school drive consists of providing coloring books, colored pencils and markers to its “Invest in Our Youth” campaign. NOURISHPHX nourishphx.org When: NourishPHX will accept donations throughout the year, but volunteers are needed to help sort items in July. Where: 501 S. 9th Ave., Phoenix, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Needs: Backpacks, blunt tip scissors, loose leaf paper, pencils, pencil pouches/cases, markers, highlighters, spiral notebooks, pens, folders, and index cards. PHOENIX RESCUE MISSION phxmission.org When: Through July 29 Where: 2515 N. 34th Dr., Phoenix, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. or through Walmart registry. Needs: Composition books, backpacks, pencil sharpeners, pens and pencils, markers, colored folders and more. SALVATION ARMY BACKPACK SOS salvationarmysouthwest.org When: July 10-30 Where: Any participating Fry’s or BOK Financial (3001 E. Camelback Road) in Phoenix. Needs: Backpacks, binders, colored pencils, crayons, erasers, folders, glue sticks, loose-leaf paper, markers, pencils, pencil sharpeners, pens, rulers, spiral notebooks and scissors. SOUTHWEST HUMAN DEVELOPMENT swhd.org When: Through July 31 Where: SWHD recommends donating through the website. Needs: Backpacks, spiral notebooks, pencil boxes, scissors, glue sticks, pencils, colored pencils, crayons, pens, rulers, dictionaries, rulers, and 1” binders. STUFF THE BUS 2023 aztv.com/stuffthebus When: Through July 31 Where: Items can be donated through the website. Needs: AZTV 7 and Valley of the Sun United Way, along with local businesses and organizations, have teamed up for Stuff the Bus. Needs include backpacks, glue, construction paper, markers, crayons, flash drives and copy paper. BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVES

39 JULY 2023 By Justin McCoy Valley resident Eric Newman is passionate about coaching youth sports – more specifically, with umpiring. Newman has been officiating softball for young Arcadians for the past 12 years, and he says he’s just getting started. Originally from Louisiana, Newman came to Arizona via Atlanta, where he played professional football with the Atlanta Falcons. After a year of professional work, an injury sidelined him, and he was unable continue his pro-football career. He decided to move to Arizona, and 16 years later, now considers himself a Valley local. Newman’s dedication and love for league sports inspired Arcadia families to start an appreciation GoFundMe campaign to give back to him for his time, effort, and sweat equity contributed to local young people. From the website: “Eric Newman is a wonderful umpire for Arcadia Little League with a positive spirit and is always helping the kids understand the sport. He is so encouraging on the field and takes the time to explain the game when he sees any confusion. He is a big reason our girls have such a great experience playing in Arcadia Little League. It is rare to find someone like Eric and we all feel so lucky to have him.” The original goal was $1,000, but contributions grew to over $3,600. He was presented with the money at the Championship Majors game. Newman umpires for both major and minor leagues six days a week, working with youth players every weekday and on Saturdays. When he isn’t behind the baseball diamond, Newman coaches P.E. for K-8 special needs children at the Amy Houston Academy in Phoenix. Newman said he finds satisfaction in imparting responsibility, ownership, accountability, and respect to the students and says that the drive every day from Gilbert to central Phoenix is worth it. “The kids are what drive me. I do this for and to give back to them,” Newman said. After work, Newman heads to the softball field near Echo Canyon to umpire. He spoke of how the games promote a sense of camaraderie for the players. “It’s all about coming out and participating. It’s competitive, but more of a friendly competition,” Newman said. In his more than a decade of umpiring, Newman said he has seen generations play in Arcadia, and he, in turn, has become part of families’ lives. “I’ve umpired sisters of sisters; I’ve been doing it that long. One of the player’s mothers makes me cookies. It’s more than just sports. It’s like a family,” Newman said. He said he was astounded by the community’s generosity and said it’s encouraged him to keep doing what he’s doing. His plan is to stay in service to the community. “I’m now seeing the next generation coming up, and that’s what’s inspired me to keep going,” Newman said. Arcadia umpire keeps it local Eric Newman