Posted May 15, 2025 in Press Releases
BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL EQUIPMENT DONATIONS FOR LOCAL YOUTH TEAMS
Greater Cleveland Sports Commission is hosting several youth-focused initiatives in 2025
Cleveland, Ohio – May 15, 2025 – Greater Cleveland Sports Commission is hosting a new and gently used baseball and softball equipment drive to source equipment to support the City of Cleveland Recreation and local baseball leagues. The goal of this initiative is to remove barriers to participation by equipping Cleveland’s youth with new and gently used gear and support local baseball and softball leagues that further advance the game within under resourced communities with Cleveland and surrounding neighborhoods.
The equipment will be given to participants at the “Next Up” Youth Education through Sports (YES) baseball and softball clinic on Friday, May 30 at League Park. Equipment drop offs will take place at the following events:
- Lake Erie Crushers Game – May 17 (in partnership with Avon Little League and Lake Erie Crushers)
- Mid-American Conference Baseball Championships – May 21-24
- NCAA DIII Baseball Championships – May 30–June 5
- *All teams participating in each of these championships are asked to bring new and gently used equipment with them when they travel to Cleveland to be donated as part of the initiative.
Supporters can also purchase equipment via this Amazon wish list.
Suggested items to donate:
- Gloves (fielding and batting)
- Aluminum and wood bats (all sizes)
- Catchers gear (youth and adult)
- Umpires gear
- Batting helmets (all sizes; 5 years or newer)
- Baseballs (little league and t-ball sizes)
- Softballs (12”)
- Batting tees
GCSC has partnered with Cleveland Guardians minor league affiliates, Akron RubberDucks (Double-A) and Lake County Captains (Single-A) to have equipment donation bins in the team’s clubhouses to collect equipment from players throughout the month of May.
In addition to equipment donations, GCSC has committed to purchasing one dozen new baseballs for each team in the leagues that will be participating in the “Next Up” Youth Baseball Clinic on May 30, to support a successful 2025 season. And, the Mid-American Conference has donated 35 cases of baseballs (12 each).