Because of their efforts in 2011, more than 300 middle school students were able to stay on the field in West Genesee modified sports.
Now, Save West Genesee Modified Sports is back, and in a big way.
They’re preparing for their 5K run/walk to be held June 3. Following that, participants and spectators at the faculty softball game could see a celebrity ump — Alec Baldwin. The actor who stars in NBC’s “30 Rock” has been a friend to the group — his organization donated $25,000 last year toward the group’s $75,000 goal.
Budget cuts left West Genesee and Camillus Middle School students on a combined team. The tryouts would limit the amount of students who could participate. Organizer John Petosa says the run/walk and faculty softball game could help to put 300 students on the field again, starting in the fall.
“We thought it was going to put too many kids out of the game,” said Petosa. “For a lot of these kids, it’s their only chance to say they made the school team.”
Once students leave the middle schools, all sports are competitive with limited spots on a team.
The modified sports were not restored in the 2012-13 budget.
The softball game will pit faculty of Camillus Middle School against faculty of West Genesee Middle School. Baldwin, whose mother and sister live in Camillus, has been asked to be the umpire of that game. He’ll be in town that weekend as he hosts a hydrofracking event in Syracuse.
