The fund raiser title could be misinterpreted. “Cages for Cornwall” sounds like we’re opening a zoo.
But the cages aren’t for animals. They’re for Little Leaguers to use during batting practice. Geoffrey Gold is spearheading a campaign to raise $20,000 so the cages can be installed by the start of the next season.
And he and the other volunteers are off to a good start. Last weekend a group of players and coaches raised $750 just by asking shoppers for donations at the Quaker Avenue Plaza.
A “Purse Bingo” night to support the campaign is a sell out; 150 women have paid to reserve a place at the event at Mountainville Manor. For their entry fee, they will get hors d’oeuvres, two beverages and a chance to play bingo for prizes.
Mr. Gold said there could be a second Bingo Night if enough people are interested.
So far the batting cage campaign has netted $6,000. Mr. Gold recognized their value while coaching and traveling with a Little League All Star team last summer. Most of the communities he visited had batting cages, which meant that one team could practice hitting while the other team was warming up in the field.
Since then, he has written to businesses to ask for support, and the league has shared its plans with the Town Board. The proposed improvement won’t affect Town taxes or league enrollment fees.
In his letter, Mr. Gold cites a blurb in the Local’s feature “This week in Cornwall.”
In 1990, Little League registration cost $90 per player. Today it’s $100. The fee has barely increased over the last 25 years.
People who would like to contribute to the project can write checks payable to Cornwall Little League and mail them to Batting Cage Project, P.O. Box 427, Cornwall, NY 12518. For information, they can contact Mr. Gold (590-0673) or ggold4@verizon.net.
