Inner-City Youth Baseball took a big step forward yesterday with the ribbon cutting and celebration of the newly renovated Ted Rasberry Field, 1010 Sheldon Avenue, SE, here in Grand Rapids.

The baseball field was renovated through a $54,560 grant from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund. So, now it's to get proper equipment, and that's where the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, the West Michigan Whitecaps, Fifth Third Bank, Meijer, and Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation come in. They have teamed up for the annual Equipment Drive for the Inner-City Youth Baseball League.

The Equipment Drive, which will run now through June 9th, collects new or gently used baseball and softball equipment for the YMCA Inner-City Youth Baseball/Softball (ICYBS) program. Anyone who donates a piece of gently used equipment (youth batting helmets, youth bats, baseballs, etc.) receives four lawn tickets to a 2016 West Michigan Whitecaps’ home game, a voucher for Wendy’s, and one free guest pass to the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids.

Anyone can drop off youth baseball/softball equipment at any Grand Rapids area Fifth Third Bank branch, Fifth Third Ballpark weekdays 10:00 am – 6:00 pm or during any home game, and at any YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids location.

The Inner-City Baseball/Softball program is a free program for inner-city youth ages 6-14 that holds games at eight neighborhood parks—Riverside Park, Richmond Park, Garfield Park, Aberdeen Park, Ted Rasberry Field, Plaster Creek Park, Sibley Field, and Martin Luther King Park. The program has grown from 384 children in its first year to over 1,100 participants in 2015. Along with the children, the program saw over 130 coaches volunteer their time.

For information about the drive or the Inner-City Youth Baseball/Softball Program, contact the Y at 616.855.9622 or visit www.grymca.org.

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