Spectacular Effort

Third Annual 100 Innings of Baseball Spectacular in the Books
Final Score: Team Stamina 69, Team Endurance 66

The Boston Men’s Baseball League completed their third annual “100 Innings of Baseball” game at Fitton Field in Worcester last weekend in windy, rainy, and cold conditions. The game aims to bring awareness and raise funds to help eliminate Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. In a remarkably close contest, Team Stamina outlasted Team Endurance by a score of 69-66. The game was tied as late as the 97th inning.

(Shonda Schilling with umpire Walter Bentson and Brett Rudy, Event Coordinator from Boston Men’s Baseball League)

The first pitch was thrown at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning and the game was played with no stops through the night -- finally finishing up on Sunday afternoon around 4 p.m., some 30 hours later. More than 120 local amateur players suited up to raise funds over the course of the event. Twenty-two “Iron Men” were in the lineup for the full tilt -- a new record.

Walter Bentson, a local umpire battling PLS (primary lateral sclerosis -- a neuromuscular disease in the same family as ALS), successfully completed his mission of being on hand for all 100 innings. Though his doctors urged him to just umpire one symbolic inning, Walter’s determination found him behind the plate for over two-thirds of the game, including the first and 100th innings.

(Shonda pitching a scoreless 94th inning)

Shonda Schilling made a relief appearance in the 94th inning for Team Endurance. The marathoner retired the first two batters on easy ground balls. Then, taking a page from Curt’s book to work the inside part of the plate more, she threw a high hard one that plunked the next batter. She immediately received a “warning” from umpire Bentson. She then showed off more of that Schilling heat, allowing one hit in her appearance.

Proceeds from the game are benefiting the ALS Association MA Chapter and the Curt’s Pitch for ALS Program -- the initiative started by the Schillings. The 2006 total is still being tallied, but the event will have brought in over $300,000 for the battle against ALS in three years time. Donations are still being accepted and can be made by visiting www.100innings.org.