TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Rays To Help South Brandon

ADVERTISEMENT

By TOM BRENNAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 19, 2008

BRANDON – Zac Saylor and the other South Brandon Little League players couldn't wait for their chance to see Tampa Bay Rays pitching ace Scott Kazmir.

Even when the reigning American League strikeout king was delayed in traffic, their enthusiasm was fueled by Raymond, the Rays fuzzy seadog mascot, who stepped in and entertained the crowd with his humorous antics.

"It was awesome," Zac said.

Kazmir, Raymond and other Rays representatives visited the Little League fields off South Parsons Avenue this morning to announce the team's charitable foundation will help rebuild the facility.

The team will provide funds to rebuild the infields with 200 tons of new clay and two tons of clay conditioner, replace the infield sod, backstop, perimeter fencing and bleacher roofs, improve dugout drainage and apply fertilizer and weed control.

Ken Rulli, the South Brandon league's interim president, said the work would be "huge."

"We have a lot of things we need to do, and for them to come in and do this is a great start," he said.

Suzanne Murchland, the Rays community relations director, said the Tampa Bay Rays of Hope Foundation was impressed by the support for the Brandon league.

"We knew we had a committed group of volunteers who would work with us and would maintain what we did so it could benefit the kids for years to come," she said.

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 657-4528 or tbrennan@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT