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It all started approximately 3 years ago, when Chris Risola, at the time, President of the Cape Coral Cal Ripken League, reached out to Chad Jackson, the Rehab Coordinator and Medical Trainer for the Minnesota Twins. Chris needed guidance in minimizing injuries due to overwork, lack of warming up, improper coaching, and more, in which Chad and Florida manager of Operations, Mark Weber were eager to assist. A beautiful partnership then began, with visits to the Cape Coral Field from players and coaches, visits to area hospitals, clinics and special events. Now, Fast forward to the Month of February 2020.
Chris Risola, now Deputy District Commissioner of District 15 (Southwest, Florida) coordinate on behalf of Babe Ruth & Cal Ripken an equipment donation worth approximately 10,000 dollars which was donated by the Twins and Pitch in for Baseball which is currently being distributed to 4 leagues within Lee County, as well as deserving youth athletes in the area.
Chris, on behalf of the local leagues accepted this donation during the Minnesota Twins open house, this past Presidents day, in which Babe Ruth & Cal Ripken players and coaches from leagues spreading across the county were greeted as VIPs, in their own roped off area with direct access to the Twins players and staff. Mark Weber, Manager Florida Business Operations, for the Twins took the lead for the distribution of the donation. “Mark is always helping out the Cal Ripken Organization and this was just one of his many surprises!” Says, Chris Risola. ”He also just recently gifted our organization 500+ tickets to the Twins Spring Training Opening Day, as a thank you to all the Presidents and Leagues Officials in the area.”
Just three days prior to the equipment donation, Deputy District Commissioner Chris Risola, along with Minnesota Twins players, coach and staff to include, Starting Pitcher, Jose Berrios. Starting Second Baseman, Luis Arraez. Pitching Prospect with the Twins Triple A Affiliate, Edwar Colina, Double A Pitching Coach, Luis Ramirez, and Florida Manager of Operations, Mark Weber made a personal visit to the Regional Cancer Center in Fort Myers. The group spent the later part of the afternoon socializing and handed out gifts to the patients and nurses. ”It’s extremely humbling”, Pitching Coach Luis Ramirez says, “I’m blessed to have had the opportunity to meet those wonderful people!”
Risola also reported that players and coaches from the Organization along with himself, to consistently include, Pitching Coach Luis Ramirez, visit the Golisano’s Children’s Hospital of Lee County, and make visits to the Community Co-op to donate food to the homeless multiple times a year for the past two years.
The Minnesota Twins Organization has been a vital part of the success of the Cape Coral Cal Ripken program. Their continued support has “gone unnoticed for too long now”, Chris Risola states. “There aren’t enough pages in this story to list all the opportunities Mark Weber and the Twins Organization has provided to us.”
Over the past year, the Cape Coral Cal Ripken has had personal visits from players to include MLB players, Luis Arraez, Jose Berrios, Brusdar Graterol (Now with the Dodgers), Luis Thorpe, prospects Alex Krilloff, Edwar Colina and Thomas Tellis. Manager for Double AA Pensacola, Ramon Borrego, Pitching Coach for Triple A Rochester, Cibney Bello, Pitching Coach for Double A Pensacola, Luis Ramirez, Medical Coordinator, Chad Jackson. Catching Coordinator, Michael Thomas.
The Organization is posed and already begun their community involvement through all the Babe Ruth & Cal Ripken Leagues in Southwest Florida. |
