Number of Participants: 20
Hours Donated: 50
Value of Time Served: $8,450
Event Type: Children & Youth
Sport: Baseball
Date: April 13, 2024
Location:
Hingham High School
Union Street, Hingham
MA
About:
“The Little League Clinic Initiative was a culmination of dedication, teamwork, and a shared passion for the love of baseball in our community and our interest in giving back and providing service.
The start of this initiative traces back to our wonderful principal, Mr. Swanson, who coached almost every member of our current team at some point in our lives. For me, it was Little League and the many summers of travel ball with Principal/Coach Swanson.
At the start of the school year, he came to the two other captains and me with a proposal for some sort of fundraiser for the Jimmy Fund that connected the older varsity boys with the younger generation of baseball players in Hingham. After a couple of rounds of meetings, Mr. Swanson, Jeremy Alyward, Aidan Devlin, and I came to a clear-cut event: a clinic for aspiring young baseball players aged 5-12 to engage with our varsity team members and receive hands-on coaching at our varsity field combined with a Jimmy Fund fundraiser. Additionally, we reached out to our coach, Frank Niles, to get his support and help. Like Principal/Coach Swanson, we have known Coach Niles since we played T-ball, and he runs many clinics for little kids.
Over the course of rigorous planning, which consumed approximately 10 hours of collective effort from myself and, my fellow captains, we meticulously orchestrated every detail of the clinic. Every task was executed as if we were preparing for a game, from designing flyers to mobilizing our varsity players to distribute them at Little League games.
On the day of the event, despite weather challenges that had necessitated rescheduling, our spirits remained undaunted. The sight of eager young faces, approximately 30, brimming with excitement as they stepped onto the field reaffirmed the initiative’s success and the significant monies we helped raise for the Jimmy Fund. Although we had the support of Principal/Coach Swanson and Coach Niles, it was the high school players who ran the clinic entirely.
As I reflect on the event, I am filled with hope and anticipation, envisioning the same youngsters gracing the Hingham High School baseball fields in the years to come, embodying the spirit of Hingham High School Baseball with pride and distinction.
As captains and players on the Hingham High School baseball team, Jeremy, Aidan, and I appreciate our responsibility to our community and the importance of service. These values are also reflected in the MIAA values. I hope next year’s captains pursue this Jimmy Fund program with the same vigor as we did this year, ensuring that there is always a connection between Hingham Little League and High School Baseball.”
Tadd Cavanaugh, HHS senior and baseball captain.