Jays Care Foundation lights up Grand Falls-Windsor ballfield
Former players wrap up two-day camp with $150,000 contribution from team's charity
The weather wasn't great, but the atmosphere was warm and upbeat during a two-day baseball camp in Grand Falls-Windsor this week that culminated in a substantial donation from the Jays Care Foundation.
Some 100 young players from central Newfoundland took part in the camp, which included several alumni from the Toronto Blue Jays, including Jesse Barfield, Lloyd Moseby, Duane Ward and Brian McRae.
The former pros left behind a very big gift — $150,000 to help cover the cost of a new lighting system for the Goodyear Avenue field.
Terry Hamilton is with the Grand Falls-Windsor Minor Baseball Association.
He estimates the association can increase participation by about 50 per cent now that they have lights on the field.
He said the system is state-of-the-art.
"I was in the clubhouse cleaning up and I never seen the lights started and all of a sudden they started. I looked out on the field and the lights were on and I said, "Oh my God," this is so cool, and the guy that was commissioning the lights was there and we actually got out on the field and what an unbelievable feeling.
"It is just a dream come true," said Hamilton.
The Jays Care Foundation was established in 1992, the same year the Blue Jays won the World Series for the first time.
The foundation invests millions of dollars every year across Canada, with the aim of enticing more young people into the sport.
Hamilton said it wasn't the only good news to come out of the camp.
He said the Blue Jays have agreed to bring their Honda Super Camp back to Grand Falls-Windsor in 2016.
"To be playing on the same ballfield with professionals ... has just been an absolute treat," he said.