Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 129, Number 29, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 20 July 2006 — Page 25

Wakarusa celebrates America at the Ballpark

By Anthony Gadson Editor It may be fun to raise money by going door-to-door, but it's a whole lot more entertaining to raise money at the ol' ballpark. After raising money for the

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ADVANCE NEWS PHOTO/A.W. GADSON Travis Lee, 6, takes his hack at a pitch.

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Wakarusa Little League by going door-to-door for many years, Wakarusa began to hold its America at the Ballpark event nearly 15 years ago. "We had to do something to raise money," Nadine Lengacher> president of the

Wakarusa Little League, said about forming the annual event. "We were tired of going door-to-door, so we decided to have one day of family fun to raise money." That day became America at the Ballpark. During the festive event, Peewee players (3 to 5-year olds) have the chance to play against their mothers in a baseball game/while Minor League players go to baseball battle with their fathers. Along with the baseball game, there is also a nice little game of kickball between Wakarusa residents. "A lot of people come to this, and say it's kind of like a family reunion," Lengacher said. "This just has a sort of family attitude." Whatever the reason, plenty of people come out to enjoy the sun, baseball and the members of the community. "We usually have between

3J300 and 4,000 people," Lengacher said. "So we get a lot of people from outside Wakarusa." A large number of people make the visit to the event in order to pick up some Nelson's Port-A-Pit or to enjoy some pie and ice cream. "We make all the pies, and Cook's Pizza

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ADVANCE NEWS PHOTO/A.W. GADSON Joan Yoder distributes ice cream to the Kern family (Karina, (front, left), Korey, Shaun (dad), and Kari (mom), holding Kolette) at this year’s America at the Ballpark held in Wakarusa.

donates the ice cream," Lengacher said. Money is also raised through raffles, with many donated prizes up for the taking. As if all those activities weren't enough, the event also gives area residents their first look at a fireworks display. "We always hold this during the last weekend in June, so it

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doesn't interfere with anyone's Fourth of July activities," Lengacher said. So with baseball, kickball, pie and ice cream, raffles and fireworks, there are plenty of things to do, and plenty of people make the trip to enjoy America at the Ballpark. "People are very supportive," Lengacher said.

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