A Night at the Ballpark

Hermosa Beach families and community leaders played ball at the Hermosa Beach Little League's third annual "Night at the Ballpark" on Saturday at Clark Field.

The overnight fundraiser is to raise money for the league. The event included a softball game between the Hermosa Beach Firefighter's Association and junior league players, home run derby, camping, gourmet hamburgers and a movie. 

No official winner was declared in the firefighters-Little League match, as the on-duty officials had to leave mid-game to respond to an emergency call. But it didn’t sour the spirits of the players.

“I came out to play a little softball against the softball players—and to win,” firefighter Mike Smotrys told Patch. "It's for a good cause."

Proceeds from the event will support the Hermosa Beach Little League, except for some money generated by food trucks that served dessert, which will benefit the Hermosa Beach Firefighters Association.

“I'm hoping one of these years we will have a board member's softball game,” said Hermosa Beach Little League president Mark Auville, before quickly reconsidering the idea as he considered the demands of the game. “I might hurt myself,” he joked.

As the games continued, local flag football coach Mark Nielsen tried to keep the team spirit alive among the youth, who ran in the before playing baseball at the fundraiser, he said.

He donned fluorescent orange face paint at the fundraiser in support of his flag football team, the Smashing Pumpkins. “I'm trying to keep them motivated,” he said.

The event raised about $8,820, organizers told Patch on Sunday, and more than 450 people attended based on ticket sales and the number of hamburgers served. The Little League plans to hold the overnight fundraiser again next year.  raised $9,000.