The wonderful deeds that the GMC baseball coaches and programs have done in recent years to promote awareness of autism spread to Union County this weekend as the Akadema Union/GMC Autism Awareness Challenge heads north up Route 1 to Elizabeth’s Williams Field.
This year’s event will consist of triple-headers on Saturday and Sunday pitting Union
North Brunswick's Anthony Muldowney, sporting his GMC Autism Awareness T-shirt, stealing second base in last year's GMC Autism Awareness Challenge. (Amanda Brown/The Star-Ledger) This is the fourth year that the GMC will hold events promoting autism awareness and the second year it will do so jointly with Union County schools.
“We said let’s spread out and get some competition from neighboring counties and (Elizabeth coach) Matt Belford jumped on board,” said Metuchen coach Leo Danik, the president of the GMC coaches association. “Elizabeth stepped up and decided to host a two-day event.
“It’s good competition between the two counties, we’re so close, and the best thing is we’re spreading the word about autism awareness. April is Autism Awareness Month.”
One of the interesting aspects of the event is that players from all of the schools were to wear event-themed T-shirts to school Friday in an effort to publicize the cause among their fellow students. Players were given information on autism so they could respond to questions from classmates about the T-Shirts.
“As more and more kids become aware of what’s going on, hopefully, it will make us better people,” Danik said.
Akadema is providing the T-shirts and numerous American Legion and VFW posts and other groups have donated to help defray some of the expenses.
Danik credits his fellow coaches with their support and cooperation in staging the event.
“The coaches are fantastic, all of these guys have come on board,” Danik said. “Probably 99 percent of them are dads and you look around and see how fortunate you have it, every day occurrences that we take for granted. Hopefully we get the message out there a little bit.”
While Danik’s family has not been affected by autism a neighbor’s family has and Danik’s special relationship with their son inspired him to take a lead role in the event.
“You just appreciate the little things because my son’s about the same age,” Danik said.
In addition to this weekend’s event the fourth GMC Autism Awareness Day will be held at North Brunswick Community Park on Saturday, April 30. That showcase will feature eight games played on two fields starting at 10 in the morning and finishing around 10 at night.
Here are the schedules for both events:
AKADEMA UNION/GMC AUTISM AWARENESS CHALLENGE
At Williams Field, Elizabeth
Saturday, April 9
Union Catholic vs. Middlesex, 10
Elizabeth vs. North Brunswick, 1
Linden vs. Colonia, 4
Sunday, April 10
Roselle Park vs. Metuchen , 10
Cranford vs. South Plainfield, 1
Westfield vs. Monroe, 4
GMC AUTISM AWARENESS DAY
At Community Park, North Brunswick
Saturday, April 30
North Brunswick vs. Sayreville, 10………………..…South River vs. Dunellen, 10
South Plainfield vs. Iselin Kennedy, 1………………Perth Amboy vs. Carteret, 1
Bishop Ahr vs. Middlesex, 4……………………….......South Brunswick vs. Spotswood, 4
Metuchen vs. Wardlaw-Hartridge, 7……...........Monroe vs. Colonia, 7
SPECIAL NOTE TO GMC FANS: Williams Field is located just off of Route 1 north, less than a mile past the Bayway Circle. Turn right at the McDonald’s and the field will be on your right. The field is also very close to exit 13 on the NJ Turnpike, at the Goethals Bridge. Take Bayway Avenue west to South Broad Street and turn right. Route 1 will be a short distance up on the right and turn right, heading north. Turn right at the McDonald’s and the field will be on the right.
Williams Field is located near the water front and tends to be a little cooler than elsewhere, so dress accordingly. Players planning on wearing their T-shirts may want to bring a long sleeve shirt to wear underneath just in case while spectators should bring one extra layer of clothing.
As for parking, I would avoid parking near the right field foul line. Especially the way Westfield lefty Daniel Kerr has been mashing the ball lately.
Enjoy the games!
http://www.nj.com/hssports/blog/baseball/index.ssf/2011/04/uniongmc_autism_awarness_challenge_highlights_weekened_schedule.html
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