PORT ANGELES — The Olympic Junior Babe Ruth baseball League in Port Angeles is off to a shining start this season thanks to a unique fundraising initiative and the support of local beverage distributor Peninsula Bottling Company.
Youth athletes recently traded their bats and gloves for brushes and hoses, taking on the task of washing Peninsula Bottling’s fleet of semi-trailers, an effort that netted them a significant donation from the beverage company.
The partnership highlights a creative approach to youth sports fundraising and underscores Peninsula Bottling’s commitment to the community. By offering their elbow grease to clean the large vehicles, the Junior Babe Ruth players not only earned funds for their league but also gained valuable experience in teamwork and community engagement.
“First of all, I want to thank [Peninsula Bottling owner] Harry Hinds for the generous opportunity to help our Olympic Junior Babe Ruth baseball league earn money. I’m very proud of our Local 155 team and the great job they did. It was a valuable lesson in giving back to the community and working together toward a common goal. In addition, thank you Coach Tyler Wickersham, Riley Shea and John Underwood,” Local 155 coach Mike Mudd.
“Supporting the youth in our community is incredibly important to us,” Hinds said. “The Junior Babe Ruth team approached us with a fantastic idea, and we were more than happy to contribute. It’s great to see these young athletes take the initiative and work together to achieve their goals.”
Father’s Day event
PORT ANGELES — The YMCA of Port Angeles invites families to celebrate Father’s Day in active, joyful style with a free community Father’s Day Field Day on June 16, at the YMCA at 302 S. Francis St. in Port Angeles.
Dads and kids can team up for classic games like basketball, pickleball, cornhole and three-legged races. After the games, families are encouraged to head across the street to Erickson Park for more fun and a “bring your own” picnic.
“This event is about strengthening family bonds and bringing our community together,” says Cort Mao, event coordinator at the YMCA of Port Angeles. “We want dads and kids to leave with smiles, a little sweat, and stories to tell.”
The event from noon to 2 p.m. is free and open to the community, but registration is required. To register, people can go online at www.tinyurl.com/FathersDayPA.
High belt testing
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — On Saturday and Sunday, White Crane Martial Arts Grandmaster Robert Nicholls of Port Angeles conducted high belt testing and instruction seminars at the Mountain Region headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The host of the event, Grandmaster Sterling Chase and Grandmaster Harris of Las Vegas, Nev., tested eight black belt candidates, with several black belts improving their level and one master, Ashon Britton, testing for seventh dan, becoming a certified Grandmaster. Also testing were a group of adaptive students who train despite various disabilities.
Members of the Local 155 Junior Babe Ruth team helped raised money for the team by washing a fleet of trucks belonging to Peninsula Bottling Company in Port Angeles.
