By
on April 25, 2014 8:42 a.m.
"It was just about getting the word out, getting people some information," Colorado Rockies scout Mike Garlatti said. "And we wanted to use baseball as the avenue to do that."
This coming Saturday, 26 teams across seven counties will play 13 games at three different locations with that same common goal. The afternoon, which has earned the name "The Autism Awareness Challenge," has ballooned to something even Garlatti didn't imagine when he began it so many years ago.
"I really never thought it was going to get this big," Garlatti, who has a son who suffers with autism, said. "Not that it has to be that big, but we've added some things to it. We've got some bigger named and ranked schools, it's intriguing to fans."
Garlatti's baseball career began as a former catcher at both the University of Tampa and Ramapo College. Later, he worked underneath Fred Hill on Rutgers University's coaching staff before he created the "Baseball Warehouse," a baseball school helping kids of all ages.
It was during this time that Garlatti wanted to create something to bring attention to Autism.
"You see how in the majors they do the pink bats for breast cancer and the NFL makes everything pink," Garlatti said. "I wanted to bring awareness and I got a lot of help from the local high school coaches. It's really grown."
One of the teams that has been involved for the last five years is North Brunswick High School.
"The whole point of it isn't even really baseball," North Brunswick coach Ryan Lillis said. "It's a fun day where everyone is at one spot. There's some good competition, everyone is talking about it and Mike usually sets up a table. It's designed to spread the word."
This year, all athletes will be taking an additional step in spreading the word. For the first time, each team will go to school on Friday in a different, extravagant colored jersey with the hope fans, parents, teachers and fellow students ask what it's for.
"All of the kids have been versed on how to explain it to them," Lillis said. "After they do, the hope is it will reach thousands and thousands of kids during the day. Those kids go home and explain it to their parents and it spreads."
While in the past games have been played at one location, this year they will be played at three: North Brunswick Community Park, East Brunswick High School and Myrtle Field in Metuchen. Below you will find the complete schedule for The Autism Awareness Challenge.
NORTH BRUNSWICK COMMUNITY PARK:
Field One:
North Brunswick vs Montgomery, 10am
Steinert vs St. Joseph (Met), 1 pm
Edison vs Elizabeth, 4pm
Millburn vs Red Bank Catholic, 7pm
Field Two: South Plainfield vs Jackson Memorial, 10:30am
Spotswood vs New Brunswick, 1:30pm
Somerville vs Sayreville, 4:30pm
CBA vs Pope John, 7:30pm
MYRTLE FIELD Plainfield vs Dunellen, 2pm
Bernards vs Middlesex, 4:30pm
Metuchen vs Barnegat, 7:30pm
EAST BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL Ridge vs East Brunswick, 1:30pm
Weehawken vs South River, 4:30pm
http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-7839117519703551037/baseball-autism-awareness-challenge-and-preview/
This coming Saturday, 26 teams across seven counties will play 13 games at three different locations with that same common goal. The afternoon, which has earned the name "The Autism Awareness Challenge," has ballooned to something even Garlatti didn't imagine when he began it so many years ago.
"I really never thought it was going to get this big," Garlatti, who has a son who suffers with autism, said. "Not that it has to be that big, but we've added some things to it. We've got some bigger named and ranked schools, it's intriguing to fans."
Garlatti's baseball career began as a former catcher at both the University of Tampa and Ramapo College. Later, he worked underneath Fred Hill on Rutgers University's coaching staff before he created the "Baseball Warehouse," a baseball school helping kids of all ages.
It was during this time that Garlatti wanted to create something to bring attention to Autism.
"You see how in the majors they do the pink bats for breast cancer and the NFL makes everything pink," Garlatti said. "I wanted to bring awareness and I got a lot of help from the local high school coaches. It's really grown."
One of the teams that has been involved for the last five years is North Brunswick High School.
"The whole point of it isn't even really baseball," North Brunswick coach Ryan Lillis said. "It's a fun day where everyone is at one spot. There's some good competition, everyone is talking about it and Mike usually sets up a table. It's designed to spread the word."
This year, all athletes will be taking an additional step in spreading the word. For the first time, each team will go to school on Friday in a different, extravagant colored jersey with the hope fans, parents, teachers and fellow students ask what it's for.
"All of the kids have been versed on how to explain it to them," Lillis said. "After they do, the hope is it will reach thousands and thousands of kids during the day. Those kids go home and explain it to their parents and it spreads."
While in the past games have been played at one location, this year they will be played at three: North Brunswick Community Park, East Brunswick High School and Myrtle Field in Metuchen. Below you will find the complete schedule for The Autism Awareness Challenge.
NORTH BRUNSWICK COMMUNITY PARK:
Field One:
North Brunswick vs Montgomery, 10am
Steinert vs St. Joseph (Met), 1 pm
Edison vs Elizabeth, 4pm
Millburn vs Red Bank Catholic, 7pm
Field Two: South Plainfield vs Jackson Memorial, 10:30am
Spotswood vs New Brunswick, 1:30pm
Somerville vs Sayreville, 4:30pm
CBA vs Pope John, 7:30pm
MYRTLE FIELD Plainfield vs Dunellen, 2pm
Bernards vs Middlesex, 4:30pm
Metuchen vs Barnegat, 7:30pm
EAST BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL Ridge vs East Brunswick, 1:30pm
Weehawken vs South River, 4:30pm
http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-7839117519703551037/baseball-autism-awareness-challenge-and-preview/
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