Structure main focus of Challengers-Ramblers Unified Scrimmage
Wednesday night was perfect baseball weather, and the diamond at Pitt Field was a lively place. The Bradford Challengers and Rambler U14 players met on the field for a two-inning scrimmage.
The Bradford Challenger Senior League has been practicing and was ready to put their skills and understanding of baseball regulations to use. Meanwhile, the Ramblers are midway through their season and enjoyed the opportunity to share a love of baseball with other local players.
“The Senior League has been practicing for the first time this year with rules and strikes. We liked to put it into the scrimmage with the Ramblers, who were so kind to come join us,” Challengers Coach Erin Bridge said. “The first time was inter-team, as they played each other, and this time we put the work a little bit more to use with a different team. It’s coming along, it’s a learning curve for most of the kids. But they did a good job.”
Bridge has a son who plays for the Ramblers, which gave the two teams the connection that developed into game time.
“They were lacking games, and we thought of an inclusion approach to not only include the Challengers but the Ramblers as well,” Ramblers U14 Coach Matt Gilligan explained.
The game gave players a chance to bring their A-game to the field, with boisterous support from the stands on both sides.
If you want to catch the Ramblers in action, they play Monday at Pitt Field against Emporium and travel to face Emporium on its home turf Thursday. Assistant Coach Troy Cook explained they are currently 1-1, with hopes to pick up extra games after next week as well.
Meanwhile, the Challengers have a couple more practices before they call it a season.
There is the possibility of another game between the two teams, similar in format, at the end of July.
While the Ramblers U14 were on the field, players from the other Ramblers teams (U11, U9 and U8) were in attendance to show support.
Ramblers U8 Coach Zach Foster (who happens to be the head baseball coach at Pitt-Bradford as well), explained, “We had a few kids come down and be a part of it. There was a text sent out and when we saw the text, we were all for it.”
