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President Clinton called balls and strikes for the first few innings of last year's Artists and Writers Charity Softball Game. PRESS FILE
President Clinton called balls and strikes for the first few innings of last year's Artists and Writers Charity Softball Game. PRESS FILE
President Clinton called balls and strikes for the first few innings of last year's Artists and Writers Charity Softball Game. PRESS FILE
Former President Bill Clinton called balls and strikes for the first few innings of last year's Artists and Writers Charity Softball Game. PRESS FILE
The 2019 Artists and Writers Charity Softball Game. PRESS FILE
The 2019 Artists and Writers Charity Softball Game. PRESS FILE
The organizers of the annual Artists & Writers Charity Softball Game in East Hampton say the game will be played this summer, albeit with some changes to account for the social distancing concerns of the coronavirus epidemic.
The game will take place on August 15 in East Hampton Village’s Herrick Park, as per usual. There will be no bleachers set up, but the public will be invited to attend in a more informal manner than has been typical of late. The event organizers said this year’s game will be “taking on the flavor of the backyard picnic that [is] the game’s origins.”
There will be no concessions this year, no team jerseys (the sales of which had been a big charity revenue source) and all fundraising for the game will be handled online on behalf of the traditional beneficiaries of the event: The Retreat, East End Hospice, the Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center and Phoenix House.
Event president Benito Vila said that both the players and the public will be encouraged to bring their own refreshments and food, and to gather around the game in informal seating.
The game will be broadcast by WLNG as per usual.
The lineup of players for the two sides are rarely set in stone until right before the game — last year former President Bill Clinton and his Secret Service bodyguards showed up unexpectedly just as the game started and handled umpire duties.
Mr. Vila said the organizers will announce more details about the game and it’s accompanying fundraising initiative in the next few weeks.
Michael Wright on Jun 24, 2020